posted November 27, 2009 08:36 PM
Bought this for cheap on eBay. Bought new drive belt and made other simple parts in my shop to get it running well again. The only repairs were all in the drive mechanism side of the projector. But the projected image is round with slightly brighter film frame in the center. Light apparently is going into the back of the lens around the film frame opening. Is a piece missing? This projector is probably a cheapo even when new. Uses 150 watt side reflector lamp mounted on the motor side shining through shutter wheel into mirror at 45 deg behind the film gate. The problem is apparently between the mirror and the gate. Anyone with answers or guesses?
Posts: 52
From: Ashley, Pa. USA
Registered: Jun 2006
posted November 27, 2009 10:22 PM
quote:The projected image sounds like there is no lens at all.
Could be that or the lens may be in backwards. The lens assemblies on many GAF projectors are the same diameter front to back, so it would be easy to install the lens backwards.
quote:Does anything change when you adjust the focusing knob?
It's more of a "lever" on top of the lens, directly above the function knob.
John
-------------------- History frozen in the frames of film
Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted November 27, 2009 11:13 PM
Could very well be a lever, for all I remember. The last time I saw one of these I was a teenager. The lady across the street had one for her home movies and I loved going to movie nights over there.
Without that machine I probably wouldn't be here today.
-------------------- All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...
posted November 28, 2009 07:23 AM
I have no instructions for this projector. The lens assembly is zoom with focus by a lever as mentioned. The front of the lens assembly as presently installed has multiple grooves on the barrel, presumably to aid finger grip. The lens assembly barrel does seem to be the same diameter at all points. Thus far, I have not been able to remove the lens assembly from the projector. How does one remove it? The projected film image looks fine but is almost washed out by the surrounding "halo". Hopefully that explains it better.
[ November 28, 2009, 08:24 AM: Message edited by: Michael Dixon ]
posted November 28, 2009 11:26 AM
In front of the film frame aperture, there is a lens that is fixed position, not attached to the barrel assembly. The cover over the lens assembly can be partially loosened by removing the main operating knob, it just pulls off, and a small Phillips head screw is underneath. That screw holds the lower edge of the cover. The upper edge apparently is held by a plastic tab inserted into a rectangular slot in the main housing. It did not release with all the force I dared apply- not wishing to break anything. Anyone have a repair manual for this machine?
posted November 29, 2009 08:09 AM
Hopefully anyone looking at this thread for the first time will read all the previous postings- I need all the help I can get. The machine at present has a DCH lamp. Since I have no instruction manual, the internet search for proper lamp shows several suppliers listing this lamp for this projector. One thought I had was that the wrong lamp would not focus the light source properly. This lamp looks OK and seems OK. Could the reflector in the lamp be faulty, out of proper position?
Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011
posted January 01, 2012 04:12 AM
Michael, I have a GAF Anscovision 788. I have emailed you if you would like a copy of the manual explaining how to remove the lens cover. You have to be careful to not just pull the lens out, since you can strip the plastic gear like grooves on the focus lever. There is a picture in the instructions that shows a small spring-like lever (looks like a paperclip) that you unhook to release the focus lever so you can pull out the lens. Let me know if you want the instructions...and if you still have trouble seeing it I can take a close up photo of mine.
The projected picture I'm getting through my lens is very washed out and a bit hazy...but not as severe as what you have described. I'm thinking this may be a cloudy lens problem (common with older Japanese lenses) and not a lamp issue. I have another GAF projector with the same type lens too cloudy to use...but you can determine your problem when you get the lens out.
Posts: 534
From: Gold Coast. Australia
Registered: Jan 2005
posted January 01, 2012 05:37 AM
Hi Michael, I would agree with Janice about this being caused by a cloudy lens. The only real cure is to replace the lens with a clear one as they usually can't be cleaned successfully. That will restore the sharp edges to the projected frame and get rid of the annoying halo you see around the image. Well known as "the dreaded bloom" it is one of the first things to check for when buying an old projector. No matter how good the projector is, if the lens is cloudy you will get a poor projected image with a bright bloom all around the screen. If you can, post a pic of the machine for us to see.
dogtor frankarnstein
[ January 03, 2012, 06:19 AM: Message edited by: frank arnstein ]
-------------------- At Projector Heaven the Focus is always on Detail.
Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011
posted February 24, 2012 09:29 PM
I was pretty successful in cleaning the lenses on my two GAF projectors. It did not look like a fungus (like I had with my Elmo FP-A)... but rather a residue built up on the inner zoom lens. This may have been created by the type of lubricant GAF used. I unscrewed the 3 screws on the sides of the barrel to remove the lens...I couldn't open it up any further then that. So I used small pieces of soft paper toweling dipped in lens cleaner that I got from my optometrist and carefully inserted the toweling into the small opening on the side of the lens. I moved it around the surface of the lenses very carefully with a tiny screwdriver. I then removed the wet toweling and inserted a dry piece to wipe off the lens. You have to be very careful not to scratch the lens...but this worked great. Both lenses are very much usable again.
-------------------- Janice
"I'm having a very good day!" Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).