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Author Topic: Christie AW3 Motor Speed Patrick Matthews Film Handler Posts: 86 From: Kansas City, MO, USA Registered: Sep 2004 posted 01-08-2010 06:15 PM                     Hi, Just got and put together a Christie AW3 (Ive never worked with one before). Everything seemed to be going smooth but one of the decks seems to have varying speed. After about 1 hour of film it will start to stop spinning and then kick on a go fast, either causing the print to become non-circular (if paying out) or just causing the tension arm to go back and forth more than it should be. The other deck seems perfect. I looked at the two cards and the speeds they are set two and they are very different settings. Does this sound like a speed problem or a motor going bad, or something else? In the middle of my day of shows so I'm only going to that deck as rewind as I'm afraid if I use it for payout it will toss a print. Any help is appriciated.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 01-08-2010 06:49 PM                     If you click on Tips on the left panel then "Christie AW3 Platter Tips" it should have a section for timing the individual decks if memory serves correctly. Though it should also be mentioned in the platter's manual.  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 01-08-2010 07:25 PM                     I have seen a problem like this with decks where the center axle needs to be cleaned and re-greased. Try removing the deck and check that the two spacer washers and the circular bearing are there.  |  IP: Logged Patrick Matthews Film Handler Posts: 86 From: Kansas City, MO, USA Registered: Sep 2004 posted 01-08-2010 07:42 PM                     Yep two washers and the bearing are on there as I put them on myself. Reading through that Tips document it appears maybe the low speed is set far too low as I'm definitely noticing a "punch". I compared the two between the last 2 shows and the deck that is working correctly has the low speed set higher. After my final show I'll tinker with it and see if that is indeed the cause.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 01-08-2010 08:07 PM                     ..just watch how you tinker for you can easily blow a motor control card's fuse in a heartbeat..  |  IP: Logged Patrick Matthews Film Handler Posts: 86 From: Kansas City, MO, USA Registered: Sep 2004 posted 01-08-2010 08:09 PM                     Monte, So I should definitely disconnect power, remove card, and then adjust speed control to be safe? Or is there some other way I could blow it?  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-09-2010 11:15 AM                     First to do... A: Don't just mess around with the low speed adjustment! Follow the entire Film-Tech set up procedure and do all three decks... or if you don't have access to that.... B: Follow the factory set up procedure and do all three decks. If all that goes well and it appears nothing was too far off then yes, Houston...you have a intermittent problem! Problem could be motor card, photo cell in end of arm, the motor itself, the make up switch. Haven't seen too many LED cards fail. Find out what's wrong by swapping the cards and parts around between the bad deck and a known good deck... If it's the motor it's very possible a motor shop can rebuild it for you at minimal cost (compared to a new one). Mark  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 01-09-2010 12:56 PM                     ..and your two biggest assets is to have a Platter Tachometer when timing AW3 platters along with a VOM.  |  IP: Logged Eric Robinson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 538 From: Santa Rosa, CA Registered: Jan 2005 posted 01-10-2010 09:46 PM                     Mark and Monte just nailed it.  |  IP: Logged

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