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Author Topic: Simplex projector oil Richard May Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1057 From: Floral Park, NY USA Registered: Aug 2004 posted 10-16-2013 08:45 AM                     So after reading some old posts about projector oil, is there a better lube to use in Simplex 35/70 heads than the stock oil? These machines run 70MM 30fps. They are idle for 9 months out of the year then used everyday for 3 months.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 10-16-2013 12:11 PM                        10 weight non detergent is the design oil for XL, Simplex and also Century. A little hard to find but Chevron GST ISO 32 will work. I never found it in less than 55 gallon drums. Louis  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-16-2013 12:37 PM                        So, Century oil and Simplex oil are the same thing? Even though they come in different cans?  |  IP: Logged Steve Guttag We forgot the crackers Gromit!!! Posts: 12814 From: Annapolis, MD Registered: Dec 1999 posted 10-16-2013 02:07 PM                     They aren't the same Scott...never have been. Simplex is lighter weight and a different color (odor)...etc.  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 10-16-2013 02:59 PM                       Steve is right as usual. Damned annoying I must say.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 10-16-2013 07:29 PM                        Simplex oil has a certain percentage of varnish in it. I had Chevron run tests on several oils as well as a "clean slate" showing them an intermittent cutaway and supplying speeds and temperatures. I never purchased Simplex again. Testing was done about 1986 using both old and new Simplex oil. Ran new and old machines on this oil for over 25 years. Also Nick Malones dad used 30 weight non detergent oil from 1948 until his old century C's were scrapped (50+ years) We did his first intermittent overhauls, so it must have worked OK. Must not be too critical as long as it doesn't leak out. Louis Perhaps this is why the old projector heads were able to not leak; they had "stop-leak" in the oil. louis  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-16-2013 07:38 PM                     SIMPLEX XL oil was originally a capella oil from texaco for refrigeration but is a non detergent 10 weight Simplex E7 Super Regular Standard Ballantyne and century #20  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 10-16-2013 07:56 PM                       I don't argue that Century oil will work in an XL but the point is they are not one and the same. I ran Century movements on automatic transmission fluid and got years and years from them and it was easy to find the leak due to the color. The idea was auto fluid does not foam which seemed like a good idea in a movement.  |  IP: Logged Richard May Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1057 From: Floral Park, NY USA Registered: Aug 2004 posted 10-16-2013 08:10 PM                     So running these heads at 30fps with 70MM film, I should stick with regular simplex oil?  |  IP: Logged Sam D. Chavez Film God Posts: 2153 From: Martinez, CA USA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 10-16-2013 10:28 PM                       I would say thinner Simplex oil is better for the XL Int. movement as it can kind of starve for oil being more or less a drip system.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-16-2013 10:41 PM                     You people are all living in the Dark Ages... Think Synthetic on this equipment too! Then you can go 10,000 reels between oil changes... LaVezzi HPO-4 is the best oil I've ever used. Expensive for sure but when you open up a 7 to 10 year old Ultramittent and the oil is still clean inside... that speaks for itself. Works fine in older Simplex's, Century's and DP-70's but it does list at 55.00 a gallon. Not for X-L's though as it's too heavy.  |  IP: Logged Dave Macaulay Film God Posts: 2321 From: Toronto, Canada Registered: Apr 2001 posted 10-20-2013 12:50 PM                     You can learn a lot from the MSDS data that's required to be available. The history of Simplex oil is a bit complicated, but the recent product is not the same as what you got in the 50s/60s. Simplex projector oil bought recently (since 1990 anyway) is compressor oil: C3 if I recall correctly (take a look at the MSDS to confirm). You can get a gallon jug of colored C3 oil quite cheap (Harbor Freight etc.) or order the clear type (like "real" Simplex oil) from an industrial supplier at more cost and a 5gal minimum - but the colored stuff is fine. Ballantyne oil is a thicker compressor oil - C4 I think. The oil used originally (Chevron spindle oil?) hasn't been available for decades.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-24-2013 12:46 PM                     Dave... Mobil Velocite Oil 10 is what most people are using in place of Chevron Spindle oil these days. It is the most readily available spindle oil around. It's about the same price as a gallon of "Simplex" oil from Strong... I have used it both in Simplex's and in my verticle mill spindle. Works perfect and is even available on Ebay from quarts up to 5 gallon pails. About $130 USD per 5 gallons. Mark  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 10-24-2013 05:44 PM                    I don't know the source; it was in my booth when I got there. We have PR1014 X-L's.  |  IP: Logged Steve Matz Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 672 From: Billings, Montana, USA Registered: Sep 2003 posted 11-05-2013 07:46 PM                     Ilove dicussions about lubricants and what is best or better.I ran Singer sewing machine oil in my EASTMAN Model 30 from the time I changed the OEM oil from Kodak and its been doing great for decades.When I raced motorcycles back in the 60's BSA told us to run SAE 90w in the transmission.Probably lost 3 to 5 horsepower from the drag.used 50 weight from then on and never had any problems.I'm old school and believe synthetic oils are for lazy people that actually believe your engine should not need an oil change for 20k.... I am back on the film forum after an 8 year absence.I really got some catching up to do...Looks like digital is doing to film what flat screen TV's did to CRT televisions.Anyway it is good to be back.Is Ken Layton still up here? He was one of the more informed and knowledgable Guys when I was still on the forum....SM  |  IP: Logged

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