8mm Forum: Synchronex Super 8 Sound Projector

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Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on November 05, 2012, 12:22 AM:

Does anyone have a manual for the Synchronex Super 8 Sound projector?...or do you know anything about this machine? The one I picked up is in decent shape. It will need a new belt...but I got it running enough to test it. Runs film fine...but NO SOUND...not a peep. Any ideas appreciated [Smile]

http://www.super8data.com/database/projectors_list/projectors_synchronex/synchronex_s8_sound.htm

Posted by frank arnstein (Member # 330) on November 05, 2012, 05:31 AM:

Hi Janice,

This projector was sold in Australia as a Titan Sound a matic.
Its a Japanese made projector and is quite a good performer.

The reason you don't hear a peep from it, is possibly because that super 8 sound machine of yours has no internal speaker.

It originally came with a hard side cover that contained the speaker and cabling, which plugs into the back. You will see a DIN socket for the speaker plug. Did you also get the side cover with the projector?

You will have some fun getting the rear cover off to get to the belt. good luck on it...

dogtor [Wink]

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on November 05, 2012, 09:47 AM:

Ahhh....Frank...I can always count on you to come to my rescue. You are right about getting the back off. Took awhile to figure it out. I had to take off the legs and the handle...what a pain. The machine did come with the front cover. It contains the
external speaker. It connects to the projector via a mini plug to the front of the projector. Tested...No sound. Do you have any suggestions on troubleshooting. Finding and changing the belt looks challenging too [Confused]

Posted by frank arnstein (Member # 330) on November 05, 2012, 02:00 PM:

Hi Janice

Find the fuse to the amplifier and see if thats OK.
Try another speaker in the socket, sometimes they are blown and a new one fixes it.
Try operating the record button numerous times to clear any oxides from the switch contacts. See if you can get any sound at all from the speaker.
If you post a pic of the rear, I will try to recall how to swap the belt.

How did you like removing the handle clips on top.???
hehehe.. [Smile]

dogtor

[ November 06, 2012, 05:28 AM: Message edited by: frank arnstein ]

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on November 06, 2012, 07:44 PM:

As far as removing the handle Frank....I think Houdini would have found it difficult to break into this thing [Smile]

Here's what I've tried so far...
- I tested the fuse that is on the front panel with a volt meter. I did get a reading so it appears to be good. That's the only fuse I see on the machine.

- I plugged in my earphones into the projector...nothing...then some small portable speakers...nothing...not even static.

- I plugged the projector speaker into a portable DVD player. I did get some sound...but it was very very faint.

- There is no record switch...just a volume dial. Turning it doesn't seem to help.

I haven't taken the front section off yet to look at the film path. Film runs very nicely through the machine though. The picture is extremely steady and the 20mm lens gives a very large sharp image. I think once I get a new belt installed it will be great for running silent film....but hopefully I'll be able to identify what's causing the sound problem and it's something I can fix.

Here are a few pics to refresh your memory. Let me know if you need more.

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on November 06, 2012, 09:33 PM:

I didn't know Houdini worked on projectors? You learn something new everyday. [Wink]

Posted by frank arnstein (Member # 330) on November 06, 2012, 10:19 PM:

Hi Janice,

First loosen then remove the motor assembly and swing it aside to give access to the rear shutter-shaft bearing.
Remove the 2 philips screws to allow the rear of the shaft to come away just enough to slide the belts off and on.

With the no-sound issue, remove the front lower covers to investigate the sound head operation. From recollection, the mechanical operation of the sound head may need readjusting.
You wont see this operation till the selector knob and covers are off. Make sure the pressure pad is in place correctly.

There is a chromed lower film guide which is usually glued in place. On mine, the guide had come away and it wouldn't thread the film onto the sound head so there was no sound.
Check all that on yours.

good luck and let us know what you find...

dogtor [Razz]

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on June 30, 2013, 02:34 PM:

It's been awhile since I've had time to work on this projector... but, I'm back at it with some success.

1. With the help of Dogtor Frank...I was able to replace the belt with an o-ring that although a bit tight seems to work.

2. I got the sound to work. I think it was the socket not making a good contact with the plug. I cleaned the wire and the sound is very load and crisp now.

3. In testing I noticed the fly wheel was not always turning. The fly wheel design is a bit convoluted. There is a gear that turns a metal wheel... that turns a rubber wheel...that turns the fly wheel [Roll Eyes]

. From what I could tell...the rubber wheel was not making good contact with the metal wheel because of a loose spring tension. I shortened the spring to increase the tension. I also took some fine sandpaper and roughed up the rubber roller to make better contact. I've done this with success on my Eumig 810D. The flywheel is spinning up nicely now.

However...there is still another problem.

After running about 300ft of film through the projector the motor starts to labor and will eventually stop. It appears the motor is getting too hot. As soon as the motor cools down ..it starts running normal again.

Any thoughts or previous experiences would be appreciated...AND Dogtor Frank if you are out there...What do you think?

[ June 30, 2013, 06:26 PM: Message edited by: Janice Glesser ]

Posted by frank arnstein (Member # 330) on July 01, 2013, 09:08 AM:

Hi Janice,

I would firstly replace the over-tight belt with a looser one.
That seems to be why your motor is overheating and it could soon burn out unless you reduce the friction by fitting a looser belt and drop some oil on the motor armature end bush.

I have been away and only got your message today about your Sankyo 800.
Sounds like you need to get an electrician to check it out.
Good thing Pete is getting you his voltage readings to compare with.

I think there is a small hidden glass line-fuse inside the wiring loom, somewhere behind the power socket. Its covered in black plastic tubing so you will need to cut it out when you find it. Also check the motherboard visually for burnt out printed circuitry.

Good luck with both machines.

dogtor frankarnstein.

[Smile]

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on July 02, 2013, 03:04 PM:

Thanks Frank...I've ordered a larger belt...hopefully not too big ... I have a hard time judging sizes.

I noticed that this projector will run at 18 and 24 fps by moving the belt to the other groves. However on this machine this is no easy task since getting inside the back of the machine requires major dis-assembly in removing the handle and the leveling feet. This is not a practical thing to do on a regular basis.

Aside from the speed changing issue...if I get the motor to run cooler, this is a terrific little projector. Auto feed works smoothly...it seems very gentle on film ...the sound is loud and clear... the image is rock steady and I love the bigger picture with the 20mm lens.

Posted by Norm Lehfeldt (Member # 5036) on October 18, 2015, 07:06 PM:

I just joined this site and came across this thread. Somewhere I have one of these projectors (and the camera and tethered audio cassette recorder that goes with it) Can find it right now but AIR, there is a phase-shifting capacitor that does bad in these machines. That's what causes the motor to wimp out. I recall replacing it with something from Radio Shack.

If this still a live issue, I'll poke around and see if I can find the thing.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on October 18, 2015, 08:06 PM:

Hi Norm...Wish I had known about the capacitor issue back when I had this projector. I pretty much gave up on it and moved on. However, thank you for posting. Perhaps it will be helpful for someone else in the future.

Posted by Norm Lehfeldt (Member # 5036) on October 20, 2015, 06:09 PM:

I figured as much, Janice, but thought it might help someone. That is a nice projector.

Posted by Norm Lehfeldt (Member # 5036) on October 20, 2015, 06:10 PM:

I figured as much, Janice, but thought it might help someone. That is a nice projector.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on October 20, 2015, 07:50 PM:

This projector wasn't a total waste. I kept the nice 20mm lens and I mounted it in a Elmo 16CL adapter. It makes for a nice BIG picture [Smile]

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