8mm Forum: Sankyo Sound 600

This is topic Sankyo Sound 600 - Head cleaning in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Tom Tripodes (Member # 4599) on January 10, 2015, 07:42 AM:

I thought I was doing a good thing cleaning the sound head on my Sankyo Sound 600. Since I did, with a q-tip designed for cleaning cameras and projectors, the sound is muffled and soft. Before I cleaned the head the sound was loud. I was hoping by cleaning the head the sound would more crisp.
What did I do wrong?
Does my sound head need to be replaced?
Thank you for any advice.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on January 10, 2015, 09:00 AM:

Probably just left some debris in there, either from the cotton bud (Q Tip) or from the build up on the head.

I always use around 3 swabs to clean mine. I soak both ends of one or two in pure alcohol. Clean until no more Brown debris can be seen on the swabs, then dry with a clean swab or two.

Finally just to be sure, blast the channel and heads with compressed air in a can.

If you do all of that, you should be ok every time you need to do this.

You have to use the pure alcohol solution or else all you will do is smear the magnetic debris all over the head surfaces,making matters worse not better.

If your heads were ok before cleaning, as you say, then they ain't going to wear out by rubbing a swab over them.

I have used this method for donkeys years and never had an issue.
Also use Filmguard to protect and more importantly lubricate your films as this relaxes the wear issues associated with Magnetic Heads as well as allowing your films to run smoother and quieter through your projector.

Posted by Tom Tripodes (Member # 4599) on January 10, 2015, 03:08 PM:

Thank you, Andrew. I'll give the pure alcohol a try. What do you use to lubricate your films?

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on January 10, 2015, 03:20 PM:

Filmguard Tom as stated above. A U.S. product formulated by this very forums administrator,Brad, I believe.

It's fantastic stuff, but look up past posts on here regarding the application to your films, as "easy does it" every time Tom.

Posted by Tom Tripodes (Member # 4599) on January 10, 2015, 05:25 PM:

Thanks again, Andrew. I will check the previous posts. Unfortunately I think I broke my sound head. I cleaned it with 99% alcohol got all the dirt out but it still sounds bad. I think I was too rough the first time I tried to clean and must have done something that the head didn't like.
Appreciate the help.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on January 10, 2015, 05:29 PM:

That is a first then Tom from a "loud and clear" sounding magnetic head just needing a clean up.

I don't think you will find one easy without finding a doner machine nowadays unfortunately.Good luck!

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