8mm Forum: Craigslist Bummer

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Posted by Brian Hendel (Member # 61) on June 12, 2011, 10:24 PM:

Just wanted to share my downer experience on Craigslist this weekend. I always look on the site for projectors and films... and Friday I saw a mint Eumig S807 never used in the box. Got stuck in all sorts of traffic driving out to Brooklyn during rush hour... checked the projector... and it was working fine. Bulb worked... sound was fine. Got home (after alot more traffic) watched my 200' Star Wars digest. Everything was great. Then went to rewind and the whole thing died. There is no movement at all. The fan is on with the bulb -- but nothing is moving... Oh well, just a warning to everyone that old projectors can look great at first inspection, but not having been used for three decades or so, there's no guarantee that things are really OK. The guy selling it was kind of sketchy so I'm not going to try to give it back to him. I thought it may just be a belt but I can't see any belts visible when I took off the back cover. So... I have another "parts only" Eumig taking up more space!

Posted by Greg Marshall (Member # 1268) on June 12, 2011, 10:45 PM:

That sucks, Brian. Sounds like something that would happen to me, too.

Posted by Vincent Zabbia (Member # 2453) on June 13, 2011, 10:30 AM:

If the forward motion works, then the rewind is not far behind. Could be that the the pressure spring is not adjusted correctly. This is found behind the front control plate. Must remove all knobs before removing plate. After entering you will have to check the side which tilts the rewing mechanism. See if it's tight if not get a screwdriver and make the adjustment...Study it before attempting ...Get the feel for it ...Good Luck

Posted by Brian Hendel (Member # 61) on June 13, 2011, 04:42 PM:

The strange thing is the forward and the rewind functions are both not working. The forward worked fine while testing it and when I got it home it played one 200' reel and then stopped all together. It's strange because I would think if the motor was dying it would slowly conk out - not just ok one second completely dead the next. So... is there something I should try adjusting?

Greg - I know! I have the worst luck with projectors. Just an hour or so with me and they stop working... never fails... I treat them so nicely and this is what I get in return!

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on June 13, 2011, 08:06 PM:

Brian,
Remind me to keep my projectors as far away from you as possible! [Big Grin]

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on June 14, 2011, 08:32 AM:

I agree, Brian, I would think if the motor was on its way out you wouldn't just see it die so quickly. Is the person you bought it from a "dealer" in cinema-related goodies or was it just an old "storage" item he was looking to unload? If the case was the latter - good chance it may have been exposed to extreme cold/heat/humidity/dust and we all know what havoc this can cause on any electrical equipment. If he "deals" with movie-related products - then, yes, sounds like you got snookered and I would let it go. You don't know what crazies you're dealing with where Craig's List is concerned. This is why I never use C/L. Too many risks (on several levels) for my comfort.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on June 14, 2011, 08:46 AM:

My fifty mile away guess (...for whatever that's worth) is that the motor has its own fuse. When you shifted into reverse something either mechanically jammed or electrically shorted and then that fuse popped. Now when you go back forward there is no power for the motor.

-Might not even be a real fuse: may be some innocent bystander circuit board trace or connector contact that got zorched.

I know I always arrive at this point...but do you have a voltmeter?

Can you put it across the motor and see if the voltage is getting to it?

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on June 14, 2011, 09:15 AM:

I have a Sankyo 500 that turns on, but no movement. I never discarded it for fear that there may be a simple way of testing/repairing it such as Steve has suggested.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on June 14, 2011, 09:23 AM:

Wellllll....

-I never said it would be simple!. It's just knowing what's really happening is the first step to fixing anything.

Even a cheapy meter and the knowledge of how to use are very handy in this hobby.

Posted by Vincent Zabbia (Member # 2453) on June 14, 2011, 11:19 AM:

Is the toggle spinning on the inside...??

Posted by Tony Stucchio (Member # 519) on June 14, 2011, 06:47 PM:

It's amazing how a machine can work perfectly one minute, and then stop working the next. Has happened to me many times (not just with "new" projectors, but with ones I've had for years.) Also, according to the Stucchio principle, within any 24 hour period, you can never have the cover off the back of the projector just once. There is ALWAYS a need to take it off again. And you will always drop a piece (usually a small screw) on the floor and it will land in a completely unbelievable place. If not on the floor, it will fall into the projector and get stuck on a magnetized piece so you can't shake it out.

Posted by Brian Hendel (Member # 61) on June 14, 2011, 07:17 PM:

Vincent - Thanks for your help. I understand you are an expert on all things Eumig. I can check the projector again on Saturday... this may be a stupid question... but what's the "spinning toggle" I have to check. Is it clearly visible?

Posted by Vincent Zabbia (Member # 2453) on June 14, 2011, 08:47 PM:

Yes it is visible. It sits between the two flat rubber discs. one side is for forward and the other for reverse..When you turn the control knob, you are actualy tilting the motor which in turn tilts the spinning toggle. The amount of pressure applied to the disc. is very critical.

Posted by Brian Hendel (Member # 61) on June 15, 2011, 06:46 PM:

Will check this weekend and let you know... Thanks Vince!

Posted by Brian Hendel (Member # 61) on June 18, 2011, 02:33 PM:

So I just turned on the projector again and it's working fine in forward and reverse. I don't trust it because I feel it can shut down at any moment... but isn't this a good sign it's not the motor and just some sort of connection problem. Going to watch it carefully and see what happens next.

Posted by Vincent Zabbia (Member # 2453) on June 18, 2011, 02:52 PM:

Yes it is a good sign...You should also test it with a film. The film going through is the true test ...Make sure you use a film that you don't care about. In other words a disposable film. If the projector stops, you won't be able to remove the film...Run the projector for a few minute without a film, just as a warmup...Keep fingers crossed...

Posted by Brian Hendel (Member # 61) on June 18, 2011, 03:13 PM:

Vince - Little update. As I was rewinding the film... it started slowing down and then stopped. But I took off the cover and pushed the toggle thing between the two rubber plates and it started going again fine. Now it's working perfectly again. So it's definitely what you thought - the toggle is not making a good connection. It seems to hold it for a while and then slips again. Is there a way to adjust something so the connection is fine again for good? It's making my weekend that this isn't going to turn out to be a piece of junk!

Posted by Brian Hendel (Member # 61) on June 20, 2011, 12:15 AM:

One more update - I played the projector literally for hours this weekend with no speed/stopping problem at all... but never put it in reverse. I used my rewind arms instead because I have a feeling it's moving the motor into the rewind position is what causes the problem. So until I know how to make the adjustment so it makes the right contact, I will just happily continue using the machine in only the forward mode - which isn't the worst thing in the world!

Posted by Gerald Santana (Member # 2362) on June 20, 2011, 01:31 AM:

Brian - That's great news about your projector, I rarely rewind films on the projector anymore. I usually put up a 1200' take up reel, add films until full then, un-splice them on rewinds later. It speeds up the show and my crank on rewinds is smoother and faster than the projector.

Posted by Vincent Zabbia (Member # 2453) on June 20, 2011, 10:15 AM:

Being able to play movies is the number one most important function of the projector...I also use rewinders to save wear and tear on my projectors...When you go from the rewind mode to the forward mode..It's probably not kicking over enough to be functional...The adjustment I told you about may not be adjusted correctly...But don't fool with this as you may open up a bag of worms. One day when you decide to sell the projector, this will be the time to experiment...Good luck with your projector...Vin

Posted by Vincent Zabbia (Member # 2453) on June 21, 2011, 11:35 AM:

Brian, I just spoke with Steve Osborne ...He says hi..

Posted by Brian Hendel (Member # 61) on June 21, 2011, 06:50 PM:

Tell him I say "Hi" back - in fact I have to call him tonight so I'll do it myself! Thanks for passing along the message.

Posted by Greg Marshall (Member # 1268) on June 21, 2011, 07:46 PM:

That's great news, Brian! I keep the rewinds up all the time, and always use them to do my rewinding, build-up and tear-down.

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