8mm Forum: Elmo ST-1200HD Film Jumping

This is topic Elmo ST-1200HD Film Jumping in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Robert Carr (Member # 4552) on November 25, 2014, 05:27 PM:

Bought an ST-1200HD on Ebay. Replaced the belts. (Except the shutter wheel belt that I just couldn't figure out.) The thing purrs compared to my Eumig 822... until I put film into it.

Something is wrong. The film jumps and the projector makes a loud chattering noise that sounds as though it would like to dice the film. I gather that it is likely that I have an issue with the claw. If someone on this forum could point me in the direction of a cure, I would much appreciate it!

Thank you!

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on November 25, 2014, 05:50 PM:

Hi Robert (Bob?) and welcome.

When I first got my ST-1200 I was tripped up by he fact that especially when you are using a 1200 foot reel, you have to manually release the machine from threading mode. The film bouncing against the threading guide makes a chattering sound.

My other Elmo releases automatically when I change to "forward, lamp" or "stop" so this caught me a few times.

When you are all threaded up, are you pressing the little black handle down under the take-up reel?

Posted by John Capazzo (Member # 157) on November 25, 2014, 06:12 PM:

Robert,

Swing the lens out and look at the alignment of the claw. Is it inside the narrow slot? If not, you can gently push it with a putty knife to get it centered. The inching knob in the front moves the claw manually. It's worked for me. --John

Posted by Robert Carr (Member # 4552) on November 25, 2014, 06:57 PM:

Thanks, John.

Looked at the claw. Turned the projector on and felt it run against my finger. Thing ran like silk.

But upon running the projector with film it kept doing what it was doing. The image sort of "jumps" with an awful clatter. Perhaps the claw is grabbing sometimes and not others? Perhaps something is not keeping that claw tight to the holes in the film?

The pictures below probably do a poor job of displaying the situation. You can see the claw protruding through the slot and the perforations in the film. There is also a picture of the image on the screen -- that black line isn't from a picture that needs to be framed but travels up and down. This occurs at 18fps and 24fps.

In response to Steve's thoughts, the film I am running is somebody's 50' home movie that involves hand pushed Hot Wheels cars. Definitely a sacrificial film of choice!

Posted by frank arnstein (Member # 330) on November 26, 2014, 02:34 AM:

Hi Robert,

Your middle picture may hold the answer but it's not clear enough to tell for sure.

Have a close look at the claw pins when they poke through the slot. It looks to me like a bunch of fluff is on the pins. Get a small brush and clean the pins all the way to their base. Use evaporative spirit to flush it clean.

See how it runs after you have removed any debris from the claw.

dogtor frankarnstein
[Smile]

Posted by John Capazzo (Member # 157) on November 26, 2014, 06:14 PM:

I was just going to tell you to clean the area before I've read Frank's response. A lot of dust. It should be cleaned after a couple of hours of viewing. If you have household isopropyl alcohol, use that; or air jet. It doesn't look like the claw is out of alignment. Did you manually try the inching knob to see if it's hitting the plate when the machine was off? If it's still clanging, remove the silver plate. Four phillips head screws to remove; then look at it.

Posted by Leon Norris (Member # 3151) on November 29, 2014, 03:33 PM:

Hey Robert my name is Leon Norris and I would like for you to send me your phone number so that I can help you with your machine I will call you so make sure that you email me back thank you Leon's Elmo Projector Repair

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on November 29, 2014, 03:47 PM:

Robert is new to the forum so I would like him to know that Leon Norris is the resident Elmo expert in the USA. Leon was a projector technician at Elmo, and his expertise and knowledge of the Elmo series projectors is second to none, and his repair service can be recommended by numerous members of this and other film forums. Leon will keep your Elmo GS or ST in top running condition, and he stocks all the spare parts.

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on November 29, 2014, 04:42 PM:

Robert,

Please let us know if Frank & John's advice did the trick.

Doug

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