posted November 22, 2016 08:08 PM
I inherited a projector from my father who inherited it from his grandfather. I've got a ton of old movies but I don't think I can watch them because the lower belt seems to be moving real slow. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think this is how it is suppose to work. I'm attaching a link to video showing the belt's current functioning when the cover plate is removed. Any help is greatly appreciated. Would love to show my family a bunch of historic films.
Posts: 339
From: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Registered: Apr 2016
posted November 22, 2016 11:43 PM
There are some very smart people on this forum when it comes to projectors and I'll bet you'll get a more informed response soon.
Does that wheel/belt turn when the projector is running the other direction? It's possible it's supposed to work that way it is.
Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
posted November 22, 2016 11:53 PM
It can probably use some lubrication, lithium grease on the gears and machine oil on the bearings. Don't forget to clean the film path good. I wipe down the film gate with isopropyl alchohal. There's usually a good build up of film emulsion that can scratch film and it will show gunk around the edges of the picture. The take up reel shouldn't turn very fast like Tom said. The speed doesn't look too bad to me.
Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
posted November 23, 2016 12:32 AM
You should be able to apply it with what you had opened in the video. Get the lithium grease in a tube, not the aeresol stuff. I use a small artists paint brush to apply it without making a mess. The bottles of sewing machine oil have a long tube that extends out which helps apply that where you want it.
I have the model 70 not the 70-A and it's been a while since I used it but if I remember correctly it does rewind. When you are watching the movie the feed reel goes on top. Make sure you have a loop of free film above and below the gate so it has some slack going in and coming out. There's probably a video on You Tube that shows how to thread the projector. Most of those old projectors with this typical design threaded the same way so don't worry if it's not the exact model.
When you rewind the film from the bottom reel feeds directly to the upper reel. Don't try to rewind it thru the gate and sprockets. Three should be a switch and or a clutch lever to switch it to rewind.
If you're still having trouble I can take a closer look at my projector tomorrow.
I see you're from Healdsburg, I spent some time there years ago when I was working on a geothermal project up a the Geyser area. It's a beautiful part of California. Welcome to the forum.
posted November 23, 2016 02:07 AM
okay, so I lubed it up and got to see a movie of the construction of the bay bridge! Thank you so much. Now, after turning it off once it doesn't seem to want to come back on. I'm hoping I haven't burned out the motor somehow. Should I lube that up too? I'm hoping and praying it has some kind of breaker that will reconnect when it cools down but maybe this is just a fantasy. Any advice is appreciated. Crossing my fingers the thing is still intact.
Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
posted November 23, 2016 10:16 AM
There's a small frame advance knob on the front of the projector. Open it up again and watch that everything is turning as you turn that knob. If not a bearing could have seized. If that is the case you may be able to free it up and get some oil in the bearing. the motor shafts can be oiled as well. Just a drop worked in is enough. hopefully it just comes back after cooling down, that does happen sometimes. I don't know of any fuses on my model 70.
posted November 23, 2016 01:22 PM
So the projector is working again! Thanks for the advice. No sooner is one question answered than another comes up. Is there a way to vertically adjust the orientation of the frame on this projector?
Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
posted November 23, 2016 03:25 PM
On my model there's a knob on the top of the projector that you rotate for framing.
There are also two small holes on the top close to the handle where oil goes. These probably feed oil into a wick that can dry out over time. Keep adding oil to them to saturate the wick. Put a drop in the hole and watch to see if it soaks in. They usually stop absorbing oil if they are saturated.
Did you locate the rewind clutch? I was just looking at mine, it's located just above the film gate. It's a tab that you pull out to switch it to rewind.