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Topic: Ballantyne Pro 35 Shaking

Patrick Matthews
Film Handler

Posts: 86
From: Kansas City, MO, USA
Registered: Sep 2004

posted 12-02-2004 07:59 PM

Hi everyone,

I run press screenings as well as normal shows on the weekends at a change over house with 2 Ballantyne Pro 35 projectors. Lately I have noticed them being jumpy (vertically), one more so than the other. I read a couple of the posts I could find on this topic and couldn't really seeme to find a solution that worked. The weird thing is that when I run a movie in scope, like I did yesterday, it doesn't seem that bad. But when I run a flat film, like today, it has quite a bit of movement. Any ideas why it is worse on flat film? Thanks!

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 12-02-2004 08:11 PM

Probably the intermittent bobbin is worn out. Looks worse on flat because the magnification is greater.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-02-2004 09:41 PM

When you replace the coupler also replace the outer ball bearing... with exactly the same type!!
Constant using the framing adjustment eventually ruins those couplings......
Mark @ CLACO

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Dan Lyons
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 698
From: Seal Beach, CA
Registered: Sep 2002

posted 12-03-2004 12:41 AM

After you give it a new coupling assembly and outboard bearing, frame it with your RP-40, then REMOVE the framing handle.

Mine gives a damn fine picture since I gave it new parts; in fact, it's steadier than some projectors the megaplexes around here are using. Not a bad machine if the operator knows how to thread in frame.

danny

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Edward Jurich
Master Film Handler

Posts: 305
From: Las Vegas USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 12-05-2004 09:39 AM

I was working on a PRO-35 with some shake in the picture, turned out to be a loose lense mount.

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 12-05-2004 12:29 PM

That's always a possibility. Projecting the top or bottom of the aperture on the screen to see if it's moving would be a way to determine for sure. But, when someone mentions Ballantyne and vertical unsteadiness... there's a high probability that its Achille's heel is once again the culprit.

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Trevor Bailey
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 113
From: Woonsocket, RI
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-07-2004 04:37 PM

A tech friend of mine, who is well respected by everyone who knows him, interviewed at Disney World. He told a story of intense Pro-35 quizzing by the interviewer. With his many years of experience, he was able to answer all of the questions without trouble, but he was surprised by one topic. It seems that Disney does not use the coupler, but has a special version that uses some type of solid shaft connector. I assume this is due to the continuous loop systems Disney uses.

I always thought that Disney's film attractions had very steady pictures, although I have many complaints about their light levels on their multi-screen shows (i.e. Ellen's Energy Adventure, Reflections of China {Circlevision 360}).

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Patrick Matthews
Film Handler

Posts: 86
From: Kansas City, MO, USA
Registered: Sep 2004

posted 12-07-2004 04:39 PM

Just a quick update, got a tech to come look at it and it was indeed the coupler. Got it swapped out and it is running smoother now. Funny you should mention the Disney parts, because our owner just ordered those parts for our projectors so maybe we won't have this problem again for awhile. Thanks for the replys.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-07-2004 07:55 PM

quote: Patrick Matthews
because our owner just ordered those parts for our projectors

In a normal theatre situation installing the Disnay Star Wheel is really a waste of good money that could be put to much better use otherwise. The Disney stars have a net of over 2K each! If you remove the framing knob and leave them alone those couplers will last a decade or more. Using the framing knob puts incredible strain on that coupler! Also stop to think how many service calls can be made (and there will be other calls made for other problems anyway) for just the price of one Disney Star.......

Mark @ CLACO

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Patrick Matthews
Film Handler

Posts: 86
From: Kansas City, MO, USA
Registered: Sep 2004

posted 12-07-2004 11:30 PM

quote: Mark Gulbrandsen
In a normal theatre situation installing the Disnay Star Wheel is really a waste of good money that could be put to much better use otherwise. The Disney stars have a net of over 2K each! If you remove the framing knob and leave them alone those couplers will last a decade or more. Using the framing knob puts incredible strain on that coupler! Also stop to think how many service calls can be made (and there will be other calls made for other problems anyway) for just the price of one Disney Star.......

This is true, but if our owner is that geeked about getting it he has to be getting a great deal on them because he payed next to nothing for the set up we have now.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-07-2004 11:46 PM

quote: Patrick Matthews
This is true, but if our owner is that geeked about getting it he has to be getting a great deal on them because he payed next to nothing for the set up we have now.

That doesn't make any sense to me. Unless a dealer happens to have Disney Stars laying around(highly unlikey in view of their value)that he wants to unload its going to be awfully expensive.... and then you have to pull each movement out and tear it down.... if the new star is webbed and the old ones aren't then other parts have to be machined for proper clearance and still that dam outer bearing is still going to fail on occasion.

As for Ballantyne booths... at one time we had so many laying around taking up room that we scrapped them out for the parts. This has been handy on many occasions. Older Ballantynes can cost more for parts and rebuild labor than they are worth on the used market. But they are pretty good machines when all is working.

Mark @ CLACO

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Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 12-09-2004 01:04 AM

Here's a good answer: take the framing levers off and make sure that the booth personnel threads in frame. That'll save on the wear and tear on those couplers. (but, that won't work due to too many complaints from the personnel..but it's a quick way for them to learn how to do it right if the one in charge has to be mean in making operational procedures are followed..)

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