Posts: 339
From: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Registered: Apr 2016
posted April 16, 2016 12:48 AM
I picked up a new projector this week but would like to fix up my old one to sell on craigslist. Not thinking I'm going to make a fortune, I just like to sell stuff that works. The bulb is good.
The projector is a Sekonic Model 30C. I can find the rubber belts on eBay but the belt on the take up arm was a spring belt I'm pretty sure and I can't find a replacement for that. I was going to try buying one for a Bell and Howell to see if it would fit or if I could shorten it if needed. However, spending $40 on belts doesn't seem like a great idea for a projector I'm not going to keep.
I know I could make a urethane belt, but I'm not sure if that would work acceptably or not. And as long I was going to make a belt for that, I might as well save some money and make the rest of the belts too. If I do a decent job welding the ends, will they hold up? I don't want to sell something that falls apart a week later.
Barry Fritz
Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1061
From: Burnsville, MN, USA
Registered: Dec 2009
posted April 16, 2016 10:56 AM
If you are talking about making a belt from the material Larry Urbanski sells, it will hold up very well. I am not certain about using it in place of the spring belt as I have never tried that. It would probably work OK.
The one I have measure 27.50 inches not stretched at all. If it's too long and you are handy you can actually cut it and rejoin it by bending 2 hooks one on each end. But they have to be perfect.
Posts: 339
From: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Registered: Apr 2016
posted April 16, 2016 07:27 PM
I measured the path with a string and it's about 11.5 inches. The spring belt for the supply arm is 10.5 inches long and that path is also 11.5. The spring seems to work just fine on the take up arm too so I'm guessing that's the right length (10.5).
Anyway, 27.5 is plenty long. There's more than enough extra there to practice making a hook with, - I'd leave the eye on the other end intact.
Are you sure you won't need it? Given, how long it is, I'm wondering if it might be wider too. Mine is only 3mm thick.
posted April 17, 2016 06:44 AM
I wondered if there was anybody out there that still makes spring belts: after all I haven't ever seen them used anywhere else than a movie projector, so I Googled it.
I got loads of hits, but most of 'em also sell spring jewelry and spring shoes and other spring fashion accessories! (Be careful what you Google for!)
I wear the same kind of belt all year so these weren't much help...
Posts: 1592
From: United States
Registered: Jun 2003
posted April 17, 2016 07:27 AM
Barry, I tried the belt material from Urbanski to replace a spring belt. It worked, but didn't last too long... Tom, I already got a replacement metal spring belt for a Chinon 7500 from Mark at "isellprojectorbelts". I just had to give him the length. You can contact Mark privately instead of going through eBay. PM me for his e-mail address...
Barry Fritz
Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1061
From: Burnsville, MN, USA
Registered: Dec 2009
posted April 17, 2016 09:20 PM
I have dealt with Mark directly also. You do need to provide exact measurements for the belt you need. He can get most any size/type.
Posts: 339
From: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Registered: Apr 2016
posted April 27, 2016 12:32 PM
Just wanted to follow-up since this forum was very helpful and maybe this will help somebody else.
Pat sent me a spring belt he had that was quite a bit longer and slightly thicker than the original from my projector. I'll create another post describing how I shortened it but basically I used a dremel with cutting wheel to get a clean cut. Then I used a butter knife and a small needle nose pliers to bend up the last loop and turn it toward the center to form the hook.
It worked really well even though it was a slightly thicker diameter. The takeaway is that you don't need to find a spring belt of the exact same length. With a few tools you can get the size you need from a longer one.
My original plan was to get the 3 rubber belts from Ebay, but I found one of them at a local hardware store for $0.99. For the other two a pack of 10 from Amazon for $1.49 took care of it. That was really lucky. The next smaller and larger sizes would have been more like $10. Thanks to those that suggested looking for appropriate sized O-rings.
So for a pretty small investment I'll have a working projector that I can sell on Craigslist which will cover the cost of my new projector and help someone else get into this hobby for not much money.
I am also trying to rehabilitate a Sekonic 8. My problem is the main rubber belt that drives the main gears for forward advance of the film and also the fan is stretched out. You folks seem to know a lot about fixing these. Do you have any advice on what size of belt?Where to get one? Also do I need to disassemble the fan unit to replace? Looks complicated.
Thanks for any advice. I am Laurie at laurie.harrison@gmail.com. In Toronto.
posted June 03, 2018 10:19 PM
Welcome Laurie... Contact a seller on Ebay called "isellprojectorbelts." I have bought from him and he is very helpful. If he doesn't have the size for your specific projector, he will ask you to take a piece of string and wrap it around the pulleys and give him the measurement. He can find a belt to fit.
-------------------- Janice
"I'm having a very good day!" Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).
Posts: 280
From: Rajburana, Bangkok, Thailand
Registered: Aug 2017
posted June 03, 2018 11:29 PM
If my understanding is correct this projector is,much like 90% of regular/super8 projectors in this world - that you can replace its belt with usual o-ring found in hardware stores.
Actually ALL of my super8 projector's belts were replaced with o-rings,without any negative effect at all. Might need to re calibrate the speed somewhat,but that's it.
-------------------- Just a lone collector from a faraway land...