8mm Forum: Bell & Howell 535 all static for sound..

This is topic Bell & Howell 535 all static for sound.. in forum 16mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Charles Skelly (Member # 2760) on October 02, 2011, 07:08 PM:

Hello all,

I am new to the forum. I picked up a B&H 535 for a whopping 12.99 from goodwill a few weeks ago. The projector works great, all except the sound. It is nothing but static. I do not even hear anything related to what should be playing from the film.

Things I have tried to fix it:

1) Completely cleaned the tension rollers on either side of the sound drum, and added a smidge of WD40 to them so they roll properly (unscrewed them and applied it there).
2) Tried hooking up an external speaker, only to get the same noise.
3) Cleaned the sound drum.
4) Checked the exiter lamp and it seems to be working properly, but have not tried a replacement.
5) Cleaned the lens between the exiter lamp and the sound drum.
6) Made sure the tension rollers snap into place and they seem to be holding the film snug on the sound drum.

Any ideas?

--Charles

Posted by Jim Schrader (Member # 9) on October 15, 2011, 07:22 AM:

did you refocus the exciter lamp?

Posted by Jim Hatcher (Member # 2762) on November 01, 2011, 10:10 PM:

The 500 series tube amps with their horizontally mounted tubes can have this problem due to sagging of the grids within the tubes. I suggest you try replacing the output tubes with new ones if possible, otherwise known good ones. Sometimes reversing the location of the two output tubes will cure the problem because of the way they are mounted; 180 degrees opposite, if I recall correctly. The exciter lamp position is fixed on these, leaving the sound lens as the only thing adjustable. Don't adjust the sound lens unless a diagnostic film shows it is necessary. This is something that should never have to be done in the life of the average 16mm projector. A bad exciter lamp could possibly cause noise, but I would go for the tubes first.

Jim

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