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Topic: Simplex E-7 oil pump repairs

Ken Layton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1452
From: Olympia, Wash. USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 11-17-2002 12:34 AM

I've got 3 E-7 machines now with all the same problems: broken sight glasses in the G-55 one shot oil reservoir (oil pump unit) allowing all the oil to leak out. I'm having a tough time finding any new ones. Seems that Wolk and Lavezzi no longer make these parts. Has anyone had any luck with having local glass shops make these? I tried a local shop about a year ago and their glass was either too thin or too thick to fit in the pump.

My E-7's still have rock steady pictures. Am I going to have to learn the fine art of glass cutting???

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 11-17-2002 01:21 AM

Yup!

I made some windows for a Super movement out of a Windex bottle for a drive-in theatre in South Dakota once. They lasted the entire season.

Josh had a leaky one, also. But I don't remember what he did to fix it.

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Dick Prather
Master Film Handler

Posts: 259
From: Portland, OR, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 11-17-2002 03:14 AM

Ken,
Why don't you cut them or have someone cut them out of a good clear plastic. You should be able to seal that OK. Plan B find some junker E-7's cheap.
Dick

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Daryl C. W. O'Shea
Film God

Posts: 3977
From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from)
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 11-17-2002 04:00 AM

You might want to look in a hardware store for some Lexan. It's strong and clear, we use it in aircraft windshields.

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Kenneth Wuepper
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1026
From: Saginaw, MI, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 11-17-2002 06:21 AM

Hello, Ken,

What is the thickness of the glass you are in need of?

I am sure we can find the material you need as there is glass in thickness from microscope slide cover glass to 1/4" thick plate glass.

The Broadway Theatre in Mt Pleasant Michigan has 2 E7's they have no use for. Sam Staples is the President of that group. SWS333@chartermi.net

Hope that will help you.

KEN

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Pete Lawrence
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 192
From: Middleburg, PA
Registered: Aug 1999

posted 11-17-2002 10:59 AM

The ones on the E7s I have are .090" thick plastic with the words "Full" and "Refill" hot stamped in. Home Depot Lexan storm window material is .095" thick. Should work fine with oil. I found the right size Gaskets and O-rings in the plumbing department at Sears, so most plumbing suppliers should have them.

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Ken Layton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1452
From: Olympia, Wash. USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 11-17-2002 12:26 PM

Pete:

Mine are all plastic and all have the "full" and "Refill" markings. I never thought about Sears stores for the gaskets. Good idea, never even thought about using Lexan. Maybe I should check the local glass companies and have them cut these in Lexan. That should stand up to the oil and temperature extremes we have at the Skyline drive-in.

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Josh Jones
Redhat

Posts: 1207
From: Plano, TX
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 11-18-2002 09:22 AM

I have stopped slow leaks in those windows with blue permatex. works good in Back covers too:)

Josh

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 11-18-2002 06:56 PM

Any thick clear plastic packaging labeled "PETE" (recycle number "1") or polyethylene Terephthalate should be unaffected by oil. (It's the same plastic that polyester film is made of):

Plastics

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Rick Long
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 759
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 11-18-2002 11:31 PM

"Plan B find some junker E-7's cheap"

These were my favourite projectors of the Simplex clan. I hate the thought that some of them have been neglected to the point where they could now be considered as "junkers".

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Dick Prather
Master Film Handler

Posts: 259
From: Portland, OR, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 11-19-2002 08:32 PM

Rick, E-7's are also one of my favorite projectors. One of the most stable picture I have seen. You either loved or hated them. Ran lots of film through them and still support two home booths with E-7's running. Sometimes we do find a few of them in such sad state that all one can do is strip them and save the parts to keep others running. That is becomming more common these days.

Ken, I don't think the heat of your DI will bother a good plastic. As long as it handles oil and is sealed properly you should have no problems.
Dick

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Ken Layton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1452
From: Olympia, Wash. USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 11-19-2002 11:18 PM

Dick:

What happens at the Skyline is during the summer the sun shines directly into the big picture windows of the booth directly onto the oil pump sight plastics for at least 8 hours a day. I think the ultraviolet rays are disintegrating the plastic. Bob McRae replaced the one sight glass plastic on our main projector only 4 years ago and it has now turned brown and cracked. Naturally all the oil leaked out.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 11-19-2002 11:32 PM

Ken,
There are these funny things called window shades.........might they help your melting plastic situation?
We have a pile of old E-7's at CLACO. If anyone needs a part just give us a call and I'll see if its on the machine and let you know what shape it is in. We also ahve a ton of NOS Simplex parts.
Mark @ CLACO

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Daryl Lund
Film Handler

Posts: 88
From: Chehalis,WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 11-21-2002 12:54 AM

Ken I hope you put a glass sight glass back in my E 7 that you have. Nothing but the best!

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