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Author Topic: Bolex 18-5L not working
Maria Rodriguez
Junior
Posts: 9
From: Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Registered: Aug 2019

- posted August 18, 2019 05:24 PM      Profile for Maria Rodriguez   Email Maria Rodriguez   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I recently found a Bolex 18-5L projector in my parent's home and, since I was the one to operate it back in the day, plugged it in. I ran for a few seconds before stopping. The bulb never went on but I guess that's expected. I removed the fuse and the hair inside seems intact. I went ahead and took out the other cover and a small part that looks like a tiny propeller fell out. I don't know where that goes or if that's the reason it's not working. The three belts look great. I was so excited to watch our old family movies!!!

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Nantawat Kittiwarakul
Master Film Handler

Posts: 280
From: Rajburana, Bangkok, Thailand
Registered: Aug 2017

- posted August 18, 2019 08:01 PM      Profile for Nantawat Kittiwarakul   Email Nantawat Kittiwarakul   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
First thing first, doesn't the motor run at all when switched on?

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Just a lone collector from a faraway land...

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

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From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

- posted August 19, 2019 03:24 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Maria
I assume you mean an 18-5L.
I don't know this projector, but the "tiny propeller" is the fan. But as Nantawat says, does the motor run at all?
http://www.bolexcollector.com/projectors/185l.html

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Maurice

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Maria Rodriguez
Junior
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From: Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Registered: Aug 2019

- posted August 19, 2019 11:45 AM      Profile for Maria Rodriguez   Email Maria Rodriguez   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The projector ran when I first plugged it in but a few seconds later stopped running and hasn't started back up again.

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

- posted August 19, 2019 03:03 PM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Some motors use a capacitor to initially give a "kick" for them to start.
It is possible that the capacitor is as old as the projector (from 1967) and has expired, hence its inability to start the motor.
Look for the capacitor and see if has leaked, or even possibly burst. This will indicate the need for a new capacitor.

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Maurice

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Nantawat Kittiwarakul
Master Film Handler

Posts: 280
From: Rajburana, Bangkok, Thailand
Registered: Aug 2017

- posted August 19, 2019 08:08 PM      Profile for Nantawat Kittiwarakul   Email Nantawat Kittiwarakul   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Maurice just pointed out an important spot [Big Grin] .
If the motor kinda "hums" when on - trying to spin but failed. It'll be more than likely leaked/failed capacitor as he pointed out.

Capacitor, in short, is used to give initial "spin" to the motor when first powered on. When aged up it will be less&less effective - to the point that it will not work at all.

But if the motor is totally silent when on. No humming/schreeching/whatever AT ALL. That could be something else too. [Roll Eyes]

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Just a lone collector from a faraway land...

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Maria Rodriguez
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From: Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
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- posted August 20, 2019 07:09 AM      Profile for Maria Rodriguez   Email Maria Rodriguez   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The motor makes no noise at all, there is no vibration. In other words, dead. I believe it is hidden behind two screws which I am unable to undo. Where would the capacitor be?

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

- posted August 20, 2019 11:02 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Maria
See the attachment. Click on "18-5L (Before 1970)" and then scroll down to the pictures The capacitor is the large aluminium cylinder top right with the nut on top of it. You can select the one showing its insides and then click on it for an enlargement.
https://van-eck.net/itable.php?lang=en&size=0&cat=film&merk=20&type=18-5 L Super (before 1970)

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Maurice

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Maria Rodriguez
Junior
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From: Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Registered: Aug 2019

- posted August 21, 2019 02:39 PM      Profile for Maria Rodriguez   Email Maria Rodriguez   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thanks! The capacitor looks good. I replaced the fuse just in case. The problem persists. I am attaching a photo.
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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

- posted August 21, 2019 03:08 PM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I had a problem with a 16mm sound projector with the motor refusing to run. Its starting capacitor was replaced and it is now running perfectly.
I've just looked at the old capacitor and it looks quite perfect, no leakage or anything. So one can't be judged by just looking at it. Mine looks about the same size as yours, an aluminium cylinder with a nut on top, 45mm wide and 80mm long (not including the nut).
It's a 14 uF (micro farad). + or - 10%. 220 volt.
If there's no life at all in the motor then it's probably that the capacitor is at fault.

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Maurice

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Nantawat Kittiwarakul
Master Film Handler

Posts: 280
From: Rajburana, Bangkok, Thailand
Registered: Aug 2017

- posted August 21, 2019 07:20 PM      Profile for Nantawat Kittiwarakul   Email Nantawat Kittiwarakul   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
If it's totally silent when switched on, I think it's time for a multimeter then. [Roll Eyes]

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Just a lone collector from a faraway land...

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Maria Rodriguez
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From: Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
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- posted August 22, 2019 10:48 AM      Profile for Maria Rodriguez   Email Maria Rodriguez   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I have no access to a multimeter. About how much would a new capacitor cost?

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

- posted August 22, 2019 11:55 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Maria
Here's an eBay seller in Germany who can supply a 14 uF capacitor for US $11.01, with what appears to be free postage. You will have to scroll down to select the value required.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Condensor-Motor-Capacitor-Starting-Capacitor-Working-Capacitor-450V-W1-Amp/172856683320?hash=item283f0fab38:m:m-suaPPb97sOn0g1o24uh1g&shqty=1&isGTR=1#shId

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Maurice

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Maria Rodriguez
Junior
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From: Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Registered: Aug 2019

- posted August 23, 2019 08:24 AM      Profile for Maria Rodriguez   Email Maria Rodriguez   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
That sounds great but I don't know how to solder! Is there any other way to make it work once I have the new one? [Confused]

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

- posted August 23, 2019 08:35 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
It doesn't need soldering. It has spade terminals. The old capacitor should have the same. The wiring to it should have fork terminals which just pull off for removal, and push on for connection.
Here's what fork terminals look like.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/231675401977

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Maurice

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Maria Rodriguez
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From: Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
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- posted August 23, 2019 08:42 AM      Profile for Maria Rodriguez   Email Maria Rodriguez   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Unfortunately for me, mine is soldered. [Frown]

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

- posted August 23, 2019 08:57 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Before you do anything physical, you must measure the size of the existing capacitor, as a replacement which is larger will obviously not fit in the space available.
The wires to the fork terminals are not soldered, the bare ends of the wires are crimped. A crimping tool is used, however, a small pair of pliers will do the trick.

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Maurice

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Nantawat Kittiwarakul
Master Film Handler

Posts: 280
From: Rajburana, Bangkok, Thailand
Registered: Aug 2017

- posted August 25, 2019 08:12 PM      Profile for Nantawat Kittiwarakul   Email Nantawat Kittiwarakul   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
If doing electrical work is not your thing, your local electrical guy should be able to get it done. [Big Grin] Not that hard for anyone who'd done some soldering before.

But you should be ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that's the capacitor's fault, not something else. The worst thing is to spending some time/cost, only to find out that you'd gone in the wrong direction. [Frown]

In short - an electrical repair person with modest experience should be able to help you figure it out, and fix it.

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Just a lone collector from a faraway land...

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

- posted August 26, 2019 04:56 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Maria
Some excellent advice from Nantawat. A local TV/radio repair man might be able to help.
Here are some near you.
https://en.infopaginas.com/c/mayaguez/radio-sets-repair

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Maurice

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Maria Rodriguez
Junior
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From: Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Registered: Aug 2019

- posted August 26, 2019 07:42 AM      Profile for Maria Rodriguez   Email Maria Rodriguez   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
You mean help me figure out if the capacitor's bad?

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

- posted August 26, 2019 10:55 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Yes.
And if it is, perhaps could supply and fit a new one.

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Maurice

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Maria Rodriguez
Junior
Posts: 9
From: Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Registered: Aug 2019

- posted August 29, 2019 09:10 AM      Profile for Maria Rodriguez   Email Maria Rodriguez   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thank you all. Will do that!!!

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