8mm Forum: Elmo 16-CL Rubber Rollers

8mm Forum

my profile | my password | search | faq | register | forum home

next oldest topic

next newest topic

»	8mm Forum » 16mm Forum » Elmo 16-CL Rubber Rollers (Page 1)

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2

Author

Topic: Elmo 16-CL Rubber Rollers

Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted October 03, 2008 04:56 AM

Email Maurice Leakey

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

I now have two Elmo 16-CL (optical) projectors and am asking for members comments on the rubber rollers which this machine uses.

On another site I read that these rollers can last a long time if maintained. For this the owner (American) used to use Rubbing Alcohol. A trip to Google reveals a number of advertisers but they only seem to be actually offering Isopropyl Alchohol but none seem to have that secret ingredient, an oil.

I tried in my local Boots branch but they were no help.

The topic also stated that the user also applied Filmrenew to his rollers with a Q-Tip after about each 10 hours of operation. This apparentately deep cleans the rollers of any chemicals left behind from films.

Can members offer any comments on maintaining their Elmo rollers please?

--------------------
Maurice

| IP: Logged

John Whittle
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 791
From: Northridge, CA USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 03, 2008 10:22 AM

Email John Whittle

Edit/Delete Post

Over here rubbing alcohol is just isoproyl with a little water and fragrance. Alcohol can "dry out" rubber, so while it's good for removing magnetic stripe residue, it's not the best "cleaner".

I would look to an electronics supply source for "rubber re-nue" or "roller repair" which are sold under a number of names. What it does is clean and remove any oxidized material from the surface of the roller and provide a new "grip" to the surface.

MG Chemicals makes "Rubber Renue" catalog number 408A-100ml; Techspray makes "Roller Rejuvenator/Platen Cleaner" cat number 1612-250. The MG Chemicals contains Dimethylbenzene and Methyl Salicylate and the product is considered flammable. The Techspray product contains D-Limonene and Chlorinated Parafin.
(websites: www.mgchemicals.com and www.techspray.com)

These are just examples, there are other similar products for rubber treatments on office machines, tape recorders, etc.

John

| IP: Logged

Tony Stucchio
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 625
From: New Jersey
Registered: Dec 2005

posted October 03, 2008 09:55 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

John,

Will these products also help the rubber disc drives on Eumig 800 series (Dual 8) projectors? They are notorious for wearing out and causing the machine to not maintain a constant speed.

Thanks!

| IP: Logged

Mark Todd
Film God

Posts: 3846
From: UK
Registered: Aug 2003

posted October 04, 2008 06:28 AM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

I`d have thought the best approach was just to leave them alone or if mucky a little natural weak soappy water on a cotton bud.

I think the rollers on your latest CL are new anyway Maurice so I wouldn`t mess with those.

Best Mark.

| IP: Logged

Claus Harding
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1149
From: Washington DC
Registered: Oct 2006

posted October 04, 2008 09:52 AM

Email Claus Harding

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

For rubber rollers, I use Caig CaiCleen RBR.

http://www.markertek.com/Product.asp?baseItem=RBR100L-2&cat=CLEANING&subcat=&prodClass=CHEMICALS&mfg=Caig+Labs&search=0&off=

It cleans and rejuvenates and is very popular for tape recorder maintenance. I am using it for rubber parts on my reel-to-reel and my film machines.

Caig also makes a variety of circuit cleaners and such.

Claus.

--------------------
"Why are there shots of deserts in a scene that's supposed to take place in Belgium during the winter?" (Review of 'Battle of the Bulge'.)

| IP: Logged

John Whittle
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 791
From: Northridge, CA USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 05, 2008 06:55 PM

Email John Whittle

Edit/Delete Post

There are lots of various rubber cleaning/renew products. They should clean glaze or dirt off the rubber. Material that is craced or dried out is a no-go with anything I know of. But add the CaiClean to the list. Always check the MDS for what the chemical composition is on any of these products. Some are much harsher than others and you should judge accordingly.

John

| IP: Logged

Josef Grassmann
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 190
From: Hennef-Sieg, Germany
Registered: Apr 2005

posted October 09, 2008 05:13 PM

Author's Homepage

Email Josef Grassmann

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Almost every Elmo 16CL we receive nowadays has soft, very sticky rubber on all 5 rollers.
There is no chance to improve them with rubber cleaner.

We remove sticky rubber from cores and put new rubber on and grind them to required diameter. If bearings are worn, new bearings are pressed on. Shafts have to be regrinded and polished if they show rough surfaces.

| IP: Logged

Peter Eastland
Junior
Posts: 2
From: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK
Registered: Sep 2008

posted October 14, 2008 04:19 PM

Email Peter Eastland

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hello maurice thanks for the reply on the tubes for B&H. message board has now gone so not able to say thank you. My dad apreciates the reply. Regarding the rubber rollers it would depend on the rubber type as to what would be best to clean them with. I do not have any experience with projector rubber rollers but aything that affects the surface of the rubber could lead to reduced life or transfer of rubber to the film. Softening if basic rubber type is not resistant to the solvent or hardening if plasticisers are leached out. The IPA diluted with water 50/50 may be gentle enough.(clean gently with bud). Water will remove soluble dirt and IPA more greasy deposits.(vodka will give you a 40% ethanol mix). Some of the chemicals mentioned in the off the shelf products appear quite aggressive to rubber and humans. Hope this helps

| IP: Logged

Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted October 15, 2008 04:04 AM

Email Maurice Leakey

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Peter

Thank you for your reply. Glad the valve info helps.

There seem many different ideas about the Elmo rollers. I have concluded that as my Service Engineer says he will be able to re-rubber the rollers (in due course!) then it seems pointless in applying different compounds in order to wield off the ages of time!

--------------------
Maurice

| IP: Logged

Gerald Santana
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1060
From: Cottage Grove OR
Registered: Dec 2010

posted December 12, 2012 01:12 PM

Author's Homepage

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Rather than start a new thread, I'm bringing this one back. I just started to clean up a 16-CL last night, everything was fine until I went to clean the rubber rollers...they turned to goo. [Frown]

[Frown]

Where can I find new ones? The older ones were melting into my cotton swab, which turned jet black when I applied a little more pressure to get dirt out. I can't run a print on this machine until that's been fixed.

Any ideas?

--------------------
http://lostandoutofprintfilms.blogspot.com/

| IP: Logged

Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted December 12, 2012 02:27 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

I highly recommend Larry Urbanski http://www.ebay.com/itm/ELMO-16mm-16-CL-16-AL-ROLLER-KIT-set-of-4-ROLLERS-/230892381659?pt=US_Movie_Slide_Projectors&hash=item35c24225db

I bought mine a few months back and I installed them myself with great support from Larry.

--------------------
Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

| IP: Logged

Gerald Santana
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1060
From: Cottage Grove OR
Registered: Dec 2010

posted December 13, 2012 01:11 PM

Author's Homepage

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hi Janice! I'll get those rollers...Muchas Gracias.

--------------------
http://lostandoutofprintfilms.blogspot.com/

| IP: Logged

Laksmi Breathwaite
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 771
From: Las Vegas
Registered: Nov 2010

posted January 08, 2013 12:30 AM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hey everybody I keep hearing horror stories about Elmo Channel Loading 16-CL Optical 16mm Film Movie Projector rubber rollers? Is this a good projector to run or what?

--------------------
" Faster then a speeding bullet, more powerful then a Locomotive "."Look up in the sky it's a bird it's a plane it's SUPERMAN"

| IP: Logged

Dino Everette
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1535
From: Long Beach, CA USA
Registered: Dec 2008

posted January 08, 2013 12:41 AM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Laksmi
It is a great projector, as it is very easy to work on and it is very gentle on shrunken film, but as you have learned the pesky rubber rollers are its Achilles heel. But as janice pointed out they are very easy to replace.

--------------------
"You're too Far Out Miss Lawrence"

| IP: Logged

Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted January 08, 2013 01:25 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Dino is correct Laksmi...The Elmo 16CL is a terrific projector...fo r me it's a keeper. Replacing the rollers is a snap and new rollers will last you a very long time. I just wish it had a lens that I could fill my screen...but the image is super sharp and the sound great too.

--------------------
Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

| IP: Logged

Dino Everette
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1535
From: Long Beach, CA USA
Registered: Dec 2008

posted January 08, 2013 02:22 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Janice if you look around they make 2 inch 1.5 inch, 1inch, 3/4 inch and 1/2 inch lenses for the elmo. You'll fill the screen.

--------------------
"You're too Far Out Miss Lawrence"

| IP: Logged

Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted January 08, 2013 03:01 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

That's good to know Dino. The lens I have is a 50mm...I've seen a 38mm lens on Ebay. I'm not that knowledgeable about lenses. Does the length of the lens determine the size of the projected image?

--------------------
Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

| IP: Logged

John Hermes
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 139
From: La Mesa, CA, USA
Registered: Nov 2008

posted January 08, 2013 05:32 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Yes, the focal length determines the image size (in addition to distance from screen). A 25mm lens will have twice the picture width of a 50mm lens at the same distance (and four times the picture area). Keep in mind, all things equal, you will lose brightness as image size increases.

--------------------
John Hermes

| IP: Logged

Terry Sills
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1423
From: Weymouth,Dorset,England
Registered: Oct 2012

posted January 10, 2013 12:20 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hello Maurice
I had an Elmo CL with exactly this problem with the rubber rollers. An easy remedy is to remove the old rubbers and replace them with 'O' rings. You need to find the correct size and you will need 4 or 5 for each roller. Quite easy to fit and they work perfectly so long as you make sure they are not too thick, or they will protrude over the outer rim edges of the roller and the film will not follow the correct path. Simples

| IP: Logged

Laksmi Breathwaite
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 771
From: Las Vegas
Registered: Nov 2010

posted January 16, 2013 11:14 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

How do I get the controls and motor nobs off to get to the rollers?

--------------------
" Faster then a speeding bullet, more powerful then a Locomotive "."Look up in the sky it's a bird it's a plane it's SUPERMAN"

| IP: Logged

Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted January 16, 2013 11:35 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Laksmi...you shouldn't have to remove the knobs to get to most of the rollers...just unscrew the two screws on the face plate. However, if you need to remove the inner plate to replace the one roller with the arm in back of the knob plate just pull the knob off and you will also need to remove the two screws on that plate.

--------------------
Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

| IP: Logged

Laksmi Breathwaite
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 771
From: Las Vegas
Registered: Nov 2010

posted January 17, 2013 12:43 AM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Thanks for the info and pics Janice Look at this picture I used fish tank tubing to repair the rollers .

How do I get the last roller off ? The one after the sound hub? The one next to the bigger spring number (1) roller

--------------------
" Faster then a speeding bullet, more powerful then a Locomotive "."Look up in the sky it's a bird it's a plane it's SUPERMAN"

| IP: Logged

Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted January 17, 2013 01:19 AM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Your model looks a little different than mine Laksmi...so you will have to pull off the knobs and remove the cover plate. You have to be careful with that #1 roller. You have to remove the arm that it is attached to see how it fits together at the base of the arm. There is also a spring that you will have to remove and reattach. It might be helpful to have the service manual I think the manual is available in the manual section of this site...if not pm me with your email address.

I'm not in agreement with your DIY solution. The thickness of the rollers has to be calibrated exactly. You might be saving money in the short term...but you are taking a big risk at potentially ruining the projector feed and your precious film.

I received a lot of expert assistance at the http://www.16mmFilmtalk.com forum. You might get more specific instructions on replacing the rollers.

[ January 17, 2013, 06:39 PM: Message edited by: Janice Glesser ]

--------------------
Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

| IP: Logged

Laurent Daudelin
Junior
Posts: 3
From: Herndon, VA, USA
Registered: Jul 2013

posted June 17, 2019 07:32 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Anybody knows a source for new or reconditioned rollers? There is only one guy on eBay selling a set but at $45, I think he's trying to make a quick buck...

| IP: Logged

Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted June 17, 2019 08:05 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Hi Laurent...I buy new rollers that are made to exacting Elmo specifications from Urbanski Films:

http://www.urbanskifilm.com/elmo.html

There is also a YouTube video showing how to install the rollers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSqzgKn09vk&t=6s

--------------------
Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

| IP: Logged

All times are Central

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2

Move Topic

Delete Topic

next oldest topic

next newest topic

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Visit www.film-tech.com for free equipment manual downloads. Copyright 2003-2019 Film-Tech Cinema Systems LLC

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2