8mm Forum: BOLEX S-321 SOUND PROBLEMS

This is topic BOLEX S-321 SOUND PROBLEMS in forum 16mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Gerald Santana (Member # 2362) on December 30, 2010, 01:05 PM:

Hello Forum,
I have a question about a Bolex S-321 I recently acquired from a local Media Center. It seems to have a beautiful picture, however no sound. I would like to try and repair it myself seeing there have been many success stories posted here regarding sound issues on older projectors.

I've threaded the film according to the instructions on the projector, without any luck. I removed the back and all of the tubes glow, however there is one encased that I can not see or tell if it is on. I fear to remove any parts but, I cleaned the machine with alcohol and it seems to run smoothly once on. The amp goes on then there is a HUM. The hum oscillates the more I turn the volume up. There are 1/4" inputs for an speaker and headphones and nothing but HUM. I turn the bass and treble controls and could here the difference, but when I run a film, no sound, just HUM.

Any BRILLIANT BOLEX BEES recognize this issue and come to our rescue?

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on December 30, 2010, 02:40 PM:

Hi Gerald,

It's been a while since I've seen a S-321 but I remember them being beautiful, incredibly heavy machines. Two things (pretty basic but it's worth a shot) come to mind right away. It is possible to thread the projector for silent films (at 18fps) and bypass the sound head. The other is that this Bolex can play both magnetic and optical sound films. Is the selector switch set correctly? I assume your film is optical sound. If so, does the exciter bulb light up?

Doug

Posted by Gerald Santana (Member # 2362) on December 30, 2010, 04:39 PM:

Doug,

Thanks for your help here, it is a beautiful machine and it's worth it's weight! The lens is exquisite and timeless, it's inner functionality is showing it's age though. It makes a difficult attempt on the take up reel to manage it's speed, so it there a horrible sound at the end of rewinding the film unless I apply pressure to reel...What could that could be?

So I went through it about 10 times, (20 if you count last night) and I'm pretty sure i have it set up to optical sound, I have the film threaded correctly (unlike the youtube video showing a S321 which is going only through the rollers. Nada, no nothing, again the amp warms up, we get the HUM and run the film, mind you with the lamp on too just in case! I admire the picture so long I let the film go for a few minutes while I try to adjust the volume or try a different AUX. Sound is not going through headphones, only the HUM.

There is a pressure plate and tension know right below the sound head, when I first go it, I wanted to get to know it so naturally, besides playing with the other controls I turned this knob too. Could I have done something here to take it off some calibration? Still it its a beautiful picture, and like you said Doug, you can bypass the sound head and run a silent film as well. There seems to be the possibility to record sound as well. Any other ideas?? I appreciate it!

Posted by Gerald Santana (Member # 2362) on January 05, 2011, 02:21 PM:

I must have missed your comment about the exciter lamp the first time Doug. I went out and got two extras, plugged one in just now, and ran a film called MONUMENT TO THE SUN STONE and it was glorious!

Another 8mm Forum success story!

Now, do I oil tor tighten the take up reel spindle so that it stops squeaking so much?

This should be an easy one. Thanks again Doug.

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