8mm Forum: Bolex 18-5 Super with cord - and new gate noise video!

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Posted by Andy Katz (Member # 3506) on January 25, 2013, 07:33 PM:

Hi! First post!

I was wondering if anyone tried using a 2-prong cord like this one in place of the missing Bolex cord?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Roland-2P-AC1-2-Prong-AC-Cable-with-Square-End-100 821230-i1128372.gc

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on January 25, 2013, 07:49 PM:

Welcome to the forum! The slots need to be closer together and I think they are too small on the cord you showed. It's quite hard to find a replacement cord for that projector, I've done a lot of searching in the past.

Posted by Richard Bock (Member # 1926) on January 26, 2013, 09:45 AM:

Here's where I got my 18-5L part for an upgrade to halogen, but Jesse Chambliss might have the power cord or be able to advise as they specialize in Bolex projectors.

http://www.chamblesscineequip.com/

Posted by Andy Katz (Member # 3506) on January 26, 2013, 12:30 PM:

I guess it pays to buy a second projector with a cord, and use whatever parts from it to make a nice complete one? New cord on the Chamblis site is $50 with shipping and handling. Used projector on eBay is usually the same price, with cord, reels, etc.

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on January 26, 2013, 05:38 PM:

That's what I did Andy, I built one really nice projector out of two. If yours is working good look for one with a cord that needs work.

Posted by Andy Katz (Member # 3506) on January 28, 2013, 09:46 AM:

I just bought an older working 18-5L, with cord and take up reels, for $35 plus shipping.

Since mine is inherited from my uncle, and has the older halogen bulb, I'll use the cord, and just sell the older working one without the cord, to get some money back!

We're not talking a fortune here, but I really don't have the room for several Bolex's and my Elmo FP8-c!

[ February 06, 2013, 10:57 AM: Message edited by: Andy Katz ]

Posted by Andy Katz (Member # 3506) on February 06, 2013, 10:43 AM:

As an update, turns out the "newer" 18-5L I got was an inoperable POS! It did come with a cord, and needed take up reel. So, I took the belts old off of it, and put them into my Uncle's 18-5 Super (1965). The pulley on this one has melted belt material on it from sitting in a Florida garage for 20 years. I tried my best to scrape off the debris, but it's not perfect.

How hard is it to swap the pulley? The non-working 18-5L has a nicer clean pulley.

Otherwise, I tried out the 18-5 Super last night. It works great, sharpest Super 8 images I've ever seen! Only it's pretty noisy - as if the sprockets may be hitting the gate (or something)?

It can also use some lube - do I grease the plastic gears and oil whatever think may need it?

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on February 06, 2013, 11:01 AM:

I tnink a really clean 18-5, fully functional and cosmetically new, with new belts and with the HI-FI lens and power cord would be worth a minimum of $150.00. I know I would not sell mine for less as these are truly magnificent machines.

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on February 06, 2013, 12:30 PM:

Andy, I put white lithium grease on the gears and sewing machine oil (Mineral Oil) on the bearings. That machine should not be very noisy and the grease should help with that. Make sure you don't use too much oil and grease, it will get tossed around and make a mess in your projector.

Posted by Andy Katz (Member # 3506) on February 06, 2013, 12:42 PM:

Thanks Bryan. Right now, my projector sounds like a roulette wheel spinning when it runs, will grease help that? Or could it be a mechanical problem?

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on February 06, 2013, 12:58 PM:

I would try the grease and see what happens. There are also gears in the reel arms but they are a bit of a pain to get seated when you put it back together. Try everything else first.

Another thing you may want to look at is the fan behind the motor. If something is rubbing it may make the sound you are talking about.

Posted by Andy Katz (Member # 3506) on February 06, 2013, 01:05 PM:

I'll give the grease and oil a try!

Anything I should do to the film path - clean with alcohol, etc?

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on February 06, 2013, 01:29 PM:

I clean the film path with rubbing alcohol and then lube it with bees wax. Make sure you are using 100% pure bees wax, if not it may have stuff in it that will be harmful to your film or projector. Rub a little on then wipe off the excess.

Posted by Andy Katz (Member # 3506) on February 06, 2013, 01:33 PM:

Bee's wax, eh? Is that available in the Dr. Seuss section?

But seriously, how would I best get in to the tight film path spots - Q tip, or what?

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on February 06, 2013, 01:49 PM:

The super 8 projectors are kind of difficult due to the auto load parts. Most of the parts pull apart far enough to get a Q-tip in there for cleaning and bees wax application. The only problem with Q-tips is you don't want to end up with loose fibers floating around in your projector. If you are careful it can be done.

Posted by Andy Katz (Member # 3506) on February 06, 2013, 02:07 PM:

These things are pretty durable though. My uncle's 18-5 (now mine) sat, un-used, for about 20 years - mostly in a humid garage - never turned on due to the lost cord.

When I finally got it and found a cord, I put the newer belts on, plugged it in, and it immediately came to life, as if it was just used yesterday!

Posted by Andy Katz (Member # 3506) on February 06, 2013, 07:20 PM:

So the noise isn't grease related. It's something with the gate. When I open the lens holder and swing it away, the noise stops. Also, when I run the projector in reverse, the noise stops. Move it in to forward, and the noise starts again.

Here is a video I took of the noise by manually tapping the gate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXsLvNRd680

The gate on my parts doner 18-5L is much quieter when I tap it. Can I do a gate transfer? Could my gate be missing a spring? Any Ideas?

[ February 06, 2013, 08:45 PM: Message edited by: Andy Katz ]

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on February 07, 2013, 11:44 AM:

It sounds like the claw may be hitting something. You can advance it slowly by hand with everything opened and possibly see what is going on. I had one that had a bent shutter blade that made a racket. I just needed to bend the piece of metal a little and it stopped. I have never had to repair the claw, maybe someone else on the forum can give you some advice on that.

Posted by Andy Katz (Member # 3506) on February 07, 2013, 11:53 AM:

I had a thought. The claw adjustment knob that moves the claw vertically to center the frame - could this be adjusted both on the high side, or the low side? I think I cranked mine all the way one way, to get the frames to show one at a time. Could it be I have to turn it the other way - to keep the claw from hitting the top or bottom of the gate??

[ February 07, 2013, 01:20 PM: Message edited by: Andy Katz ]

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on February 07, 2013, 01:42 PM:

I think that moves the lens up and down. I could be wrong, I don't have mine in front of me at the moment.

Posted by Andy Katz (Member # 3506) on February 07, 2013, 01:54 PM:

The literature says the knob moves the claw up and down, to catch the film higher or lower. Since the projector is in near mint shape, and built like a tank, I bet MY ADJUSTMENT screwed up the claw!

If I back the knob off, and center the frame higher, I bet that moves the claw to the center of the gate, fixing my noise!

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on February 07, 2013, 02:54 PM:

Let us know how it turns out. I would still clean the film path, grease the gears and oil the bearings for good measure.

Posted by Andy Katz (Member # 3506) on February 07, 2013, 02:55 PM:

Will do!

Posted by Barry Fritz (Member # 1865) on February 07, 2013, 11:07 PM:

That knob is how you adjust the frame. To clean the black goo, get a full pack of Q Tips and laquer thinner. It will immediately clean the goo. Follow precautions on can......no flame and good ventilation. Acetone is second best.

Posted by Andy Katz (Member # 3506) on February 08, 2013, 08:26 AM:

I used lighter fluid to get most of the goo off the pulley.

The noise isn't related to the framer knob. It seems to be the claw hitting the pressure pad when the film goes through. With no film, it runs quieter.

For all I know the projector could have been dropped many times in the moves my Uncle made?

Not sure what to do, other than using my trusty Elmo FP8-C and mothballing the Bolex. Is there a way to take the gate/pressure plate off, to swap it with my newer doner projector?

Posted by Andy Katz (Member # 3506) on February 12, 2013, 02:00 PM:

Update: I read a few posts where people said old, dry film can shrink, and easily cause extra clatter when going through the projector! I bet that's my problem - all the films i view are old and dry. And that's why the noise goes away when no film is running through the gate.

Question is, what is the best way to lubricate and protect Super 8 home movies?

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on February 12, 2013, 03:42 PM:

That's a whole other debate Andy. Do a search on the forum for Filmrenew. There has been a lot of discussion about it and other brands. You can soak your film in it for a few days, that may help.

Posted by Andy Katz (Member # 3506) on February 12, 2013, 04:12 PM:

I ordered some Filmguard - I'll experiment with it and see if it clears up my issue.

My Elmo FP8 is quieter than the Bolex though. Could be the Bolex is more sensitive because the film path is out in the open?

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