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Author Topic: Simplex 35 Projector / Framing issue Zachary C Washburn Film Handler Posts: 18 From: Peoria, IL Registered: Sep 2005 posted 03-02-2012 01:15 PM                     I Have an old Simplex 35MM Projector Head model 1050 that keeps slipping out of frame. I have replaced the vertical drive shaft, the intermittent assembly, and just today replaced the framing the shutter assembly. It was good for all of about 30 minutes. As the projector is running I can actually feel a ticking on the framing knob. Any suggestions? I am using an RCA sound head. The motor feels fine and I would imagine that if it was the gearbox I would be having another set of problems completely. Thanks. -Zach  |  IP: Logged Rick Raskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1100 From: Manassas Virginia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 03-02-2012 01:39 PM                     Film gate closure, intermittent shoe alignment, film gate tension, worn intermittent shoes. Is the framing rake set in mid position?  |  IP: Logged Zachary C Washburn Film Handler Posts: 18 From: Peoria, IL Registered: Sep 2005 posted 03-02-2012 01:44 PM                     Yes the frame is set to mid position. I replaced the intermittent as the entire assembly. I can try the film gate closure. But the slip is definitely more rhythmic. Looking inside the projector while it is running I can see that the guide rod on the framing and shutter assembly has a lot of back and forth movement. This was also present in the old assembly that I just removed. Any of my other projectors in motion don't show any movement at all here during operation.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 03-02-2012 03:21 PM                     The spring clips that holds the framing cam assembly (the round thing where you mount the intermittent assembly), located in the gear side of the machine, are wearing out by losing their spring tension. Check with your dealer to see if you can get new clips to replace so you won't have problems with "rolling frame" issues. But, if your gate tension is way too high, this will also pull on the assembly to roll it out of frame. -Monte  |  IP: Logged Martin McCaffery Film God Posts: 2481 From: Montgomery, AL Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-02-2012 03:22 PM                        This is a common problem, or at least one I've run into a few times. There is a pressure spring on the framing shaft that wears out at causes this problem. I don't remember the number, and it is a bit of a pain to replace, but a simple fix. When it starts slipping really bad, you can sit and watch the framing knob turning by itself.  |  IP: Logged Zachary C Washburn Film Handler Posts: 18 From: Peoria, IL Registered: Sep 2005 posted 03-02-2012 04:56 PM                     Ok. Just replaced the tension spring on the framing shaft and the problem persists. I am going to try replacing the spring clips on the framing cam next. I am not sure why the word spring would be used in conjunction with them. As they are completely solid. But when I replaced the intermittent assembly and framing cam I did reuse the old framing cam retainer springs.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 03-02-2012 05:07 PM                        Older projectors have the solid ones. Order 4 spring clips and new screws as well.The old screws are too long. The new spring clips are way too flexible. Double them up and you will fix what is wrong.. . . . just like Monte says. Louis  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 03-02-2012 08:17 PM                     Me thinks the shutter compensator assy is ye cause. If you have access to another head, swap it out. Rebuilding one is not for the weak hearted (or weak fingered). Once they go, the compensation shaft that rides on the intermittent framing cam will start pounding it and rotate the framer around.  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 03-02-2012 10:56 PM                     quote: Zachary C Washburn I can see that the guide rod on the framing and shutter assembly has a lot of back and forth movement. Steve is spot-on, as usual. The shutter drive assy needs to be rebuilt. Zachary, contact me by PM, I have a rebuilt assy (from my prized XL head) I can send you repair-exchange.  |  IP: Logged Robert Throop Master Film Handler Posts: 412 From: Vernon, NY USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-04-2012 12:35 PM                     Some years ago I experienced this with an XL. I called the Strong factory and spoke with one of their techs. He suggested loosening the 4 screws P1557 in P1746 idler gear shaft and pushing P1746 all the way to the right against framing cam P1708. It was a quick and dirty fix but it's been 13 years and the movement still doesn't creep.  |  IP: Logged John T. Hendrickson, Jr Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 889 From: Freehold, NJ, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 03-05-2012 09:07 PM                     I remember this happening on the #1 XL in the old Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, NJ in the summer of 1971. Reported it to the company tech, who instructed me to cut a piece of wood and wedge it between the framing knob and the casing. It worked. It was still there at the end of the summer season when I left to go back to teaching school. Don't know if they ever fixed it the right way.  |  IP: Logged Eric Robinson Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 538 From: Santa Rosa, CA Registered: Jan 2005 posted 03-06-2012 12:48 AM                     quote: John T. Hendrickson, Jr who instructed me to cut a piece of wood and wedge it between Hmmm, how many topics on Film-Tech have been solved with wedging a piece of wood? It's a popular solution...I hope it dovetails into digital cinema so we don't lose this old tried and true solution.  |  IP: Logged Victor Liorentas Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 800 From: london ontario canada Registered: May 2009 posted 03-06-2012 01:30 AM                     Yes I have used wood wedges for leveling digital projectors!  |  IP: Logged Zachary C Washburn Film Handler Posts: 18 From: Peoria, IL Registered: Sep 2005 posted 03-09-2012 10:54 AM                     Ok. I have now tried to changing out the tension clips. Problem still not solved. Steve. I don't know if I am missing something about the compensator. I replaced the entire framing and shutter assembly with a working assembly from a house that was converted to digital. I would certainly believe the problem lies there. I have looked at my manual cover to cover and don't see anything labeled compensator.  |  IP: Logged Tony Bandiera Jr Film God Posts: 3067 From: Moreland Idaho Registered: Apr 2004 posted 03-09-2012 02:52 PM                     Zachary, the shutter drive assembly you used is still bad, since as you said you can see the guide on the drive has a lot of movement. It MUST NOT bounce at all when the machine is running. Until you fix that you will continue to have the problem and it will only get worse. Contact me by PM I have a fresh assembly I can send you repair-exchange. The compensator is the part of the shutter drive that is moved by the roller which rides on the framing cam that holds the intermittent. As you turn the framing knob, it shifts the shutter timing slightly to keep it perfectly sync'd with the movement of the intermittent sprocket. Without it, the shutter would be far enough out of time near the extremes of framing travel to have a lot of ghosting. Steve's use of the term compensator describes what it does, that is why you won't find it in the manuals.  |  IP: Logged

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