8mm Forum: Bolex 18-5 Projector Woes...

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Posted by Jason Griffith (Member # 746) on December 30, 2006, 08:50 PM:

I have inherited a Bolex 18-5 projector that appears to be in near perfect working order. The only problem that I have encountered is that the belts have apparently deteriorated (for all I know the oem belts have been replaced by rubber bands, as they have shedded some of their rubber which looks like little pencil eraser shavings on the parts adjacent to the drive and driven pulleys), and the belts are now slipping and the torque of the drive pulley is throwing the belts as a result.

I'm curious if I can use equally sized O rings as replacement or if there is a reccommended replacement part for these belts.

Additionally, I am curious if there is a specific way that I should clean up the remainder of this mess of rubber shavings or if I should just use low pressure compressed air and/or a dry brush.

Thanks much! I'm very interested in getting into shooting some 8mm film (the projector was only half of the equation - the Bauer C2 is the other half).

Thanks,

Jason Griffith

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 30, 2006, 09:04 PM:

Welcome Jason!

Re:shavings

I'd puff away what you can by blowing and maybe pick up remainders with a Q-tip and some rubbing alcohol. Real compressed air is a little blatant for a movie projector.

Re: Belts

Help is on the way!

http://cgi.ebay. com/Super-8-8MM-Bolex-18-5-Newer-Projector-Belts-3-Belt-set_W0QQitemZ320052700371QQihZ011QQcategoryZ83878QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

This is a reputable E-bay seller who I have used personally and highly recommend. Not only is his stuff good, he understands what he's selling. There seems to be two types of Bolex 18-5s and he has belts for both, so maybe you should contact him and figure it out before you buy.

Happy New Year, and enjoy your projector!

Posted by Jason Griffith (Member # 746) on December 31, 2006, 01:07 PM:

You mean I can't just use 90psi compressed air to blow off the internal mechanisms of a 30+ year old film projector? ;-)

I've got a camera cleaner bellows (little bladder with brush attached) that would probably work well for the areas that don't have any residue of oil/grease on them. Alcohol + q tip would work well on the other areas.

I emailed the seller and hopefully we can get to the bottom of the dilemma!

Thanks again.

Jason

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on December 31, 2006, 01:39 PM:

I had the same problem with my 18-5, and used Parker Butyl O -rings to replace the old rotted out belts. I don't remember exactly what size o-rings I used, but the projector has been running flawlessly ever since - about 15 years or more.
Oh, and you certainly do not want to be blowing the bits of the old belt around the inside of the machine. Do it the hard way.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 31, 2006, 02:07 PM:

90 PSI?, go for 150!

Why just damage the machine when you can blow it right off the table??!! [Wink]

-but seriously folks, I think "isellprojectorbelts" will help you make it right again.

Posted by Jason Griffith (Member # 746) on December 31, 2006, 07:23 PM:

Well if I can take this bottle of CO2/Argon mix that i use to weld and acutely point it toward the old rubber bits I'm sure I can knock the valve off the top and hit somewhere north of 1800 psi, but I doubt the projector will be the one moving! [Big Grin]

I was also thinking something like a buna-n rubber o ring, and I will try that as i have an assortment that includes a proper size if 'isellprojectorbelts' doesn't have what I need to make it run again.

Jason

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 31, 2006, 07:30 PM:

I respect a man that can weld!

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