Posts: 506
From: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK
Registered: Mar 2016
posted July 24, 2018 05:51 PM
I recently repaired a faulty projector which didn't seem to have been used for over 25 years. I'm sure it's an early forerunner of the Sankyo Dualux 1000 machines but Standard 8 only. A toothed sprocket wheel leads the film through the gate when the threading lever is pressed down but the film has to be threaded onto the take up spool by hand. It runs fine now and projects a sharp, steady picture but...at times, the film is projected off-centre, with the edge of the film opposite the sprocket holes showing on screen together with a band of light from the lamp. The opposite side of the film frame isn't visible. The pressure plate seems to be making good contact with the film in the gate and I can't think what could cause this. Last night, I watched a compilation of 50' family films spliced together on a 200' reel. The first film projected off-centre but after the first splice the rest of the film projected normally. I ran the same reel on another projector (a Sankyo Dualux 1000) without any problem. Any thoughts, please?
Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007
posted July 26, 2018 09:24 AM
I suggest that the threading lever isn't returning the gate to its normal closed position after threading. Also, perhaps the gate springs need replacing, (or you could pull them out slightly.)
Posts: 1061
From: Burnsville, MN, USA
Registered: Dec 2009
posted July 26, 2018 12:35 PM
On the side of the gate channel opposite the claw, ther are usually two pressure guides that press against the side edge of the film. With no film in the gate, check these by gently pressing them outward from the channel. They should move out and the return inward when you release pressure. These may need to be cleaned if they do not move out and back smoothly.
Posts: 506
From: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK
Registered: Mar 2016
posted July 26, 2018 06:26 PM
Thanks for the replies all. The pressure guides at the side of the gate channel moved in and out easily. They and the gate have been cleaned using 100% IPA. When the threading lever is pressed, it pulls the top of the pressure plate away from the film channel but the plate goes back once the lever is released. I found what seem to be adjustment screws for the gate springs and tightened them a little. The auto-threading only takes the film through the gate and after that the film needs to be threaded by hand. I think that the threading lever needs to be released immediately the film emerges from the threading mechanism. No handbook, of course. The film which projected off-centre the other night ran perfectly tonight twice. I think between us we cracked it. Cheers!