8mm Forum: Elmo F16-250HS sound drum problem

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Posted by Igshaan Safodien (Member # 5061) on October 26, 2015, 03:12 PM:

I was wondering if anybody could help me with a Elmo F16-250HS projector. I bought one about 3 years ago for dirt cheap, but it was extremely filthy. The projector's rollers and film gate was simply thick with dust. After cleaning it throughly, it turned out the projector was really gorgeous with all the rollers all chrome, really beautiful. After using a test film, it worked about 20 minutes. The sound was intermittent and then the reels stopped turning. After inspection, I noticed that one of the rubber belts on top broke. The belts perished very badly after so many years. So I packed the projector away. But what impressed me really was that the Elmo F16-250HS ran really quiet and it was so smooth, even after so many years. My Kodak pagent is so loud and chattery and my Eiki is okay, but there was something about this Elmo.

This Saturday I bought a broken Elmo F16-250HS that was advertised in a local classifieds website. I was so happy. The projector was in mint condition but two gears were broken. The owner brought me all the loose parts. He had tried to fix it over the years, but gave up because he could not obtain the necessary parts. I decided to transfer one rubber belt and parts of exciter lamp because I noticed some parts missing on mine.

After struggling for some time, I managed to fit the belt and tested the projector. Using a test film, I was so excited to see an extremely bright picture which was quite large because of zoom lens.

But I still had no sound. The exciter lamp is nice and bright, but I noticed that the sound drum is protuding too far forward. So I think the light from exciter lamp is not hitting the sound drum.

On the broken Elmo I recently purchased, I can push the sound drum forwards and backwards easily. But on this Elmo F16 the sound drum is stuck. It simply will not move. It is able to rotate easily, but I cannot push it backwards, not even a little bit. I tried assisting it by pulling on larger drum located at the back, but it simply won't move.

And I really don't want to damage this projector. Does anybody know what the problem is and how I can solve it? I really don't want to take the whole projector apart.

Where can I get a copy of service manuel for Elmo F16-250HS?

Please help

Posted by Barry Fritz (Member # 1865) on October 27, 2015, 02:27 PM:

The light from the exciter is not supposed to hit the sound drum. It is supposed to hit just to the inward side of the drum. With film threaded, the optical sound strip should be protruding inward of the drum. The light from the exciter must be able to pass through the optical strip and hit the PEC which I underneath.
With no film and volume turned up, pass something like a business card in and out in front of the exciter sound optics and thePEC. You should hear a thump.

Posted by Igshaan Safodien (Member # 5061) on October 28, 2015, 03:46 PM:

Hi Barry
Thank you for your response. I took your advice and tested it with a credit card. There definatelty is a slight thump on the speaker. I ran my test film through again and this time there was sound, but very soft and distorted. Yesterday it was dead silent even on maximum volume. I don't know whats different today. I removed the sound drum and used a little WD40 to clean the wiring around PEC because it was dirty. I also checked the little lens from exciter. There is a slight chip on one side of tiny glass lens, probably due to me tightening the little screws too tight. But most of the glass lens is still there and I put it back together. Maybe the amplifier is gone or there's some dirt or rust stuck somewhere. I will have to leave it another day on my kitchen table and try figure out my next move. Maybe you have an idea what the fault could be?

Posted by Barry Fritz (Member # 1865) on October 29, 2015, 01:20 PM:

Hmm. Did you remove the sound optics to clean the lens? If you did, that may be your problem. Those optics need to be very exact to get the light to focus correctly on the optical strip. All positions need to be exact. You may need to loosen that screw and if you can reach the optics with film running, move it in and out and also rotate it until sound is correct. Not an easy undertaking. The good news is that you amp seems to be OK.

Posted by Igshaan Safodien (Member # 5061) on October 31, 2015, 07:48 AM:

I tried Barry's recommendations and I finally got sound. I adjusted optics to get best audio quality and I was very pleased that my Elmo, after three years was finally in working order. I decided to watch a movie, a Tale of Two Citiers (1958) and I was very impressed with the Elmo. I had to keep the volume and tone control on maximum though to get normal listening level. The volume is much louder on my Eiki and sound a bit cleaner.

When I decided to watch a second movie, the sound went away half way through the second reel. Just totally blank. a credit card between optics could not even produce a thump. I decided to rewind the reel and pack eveything away, then I heard a loud hiss through the speaker. Then I new the sound was back and the problem lies with the amplifier.

At least I got the Elmo, for the first time in years to actually work with sound and everything. And each time I connect it, i figure out what the problem is. A few days ago, I was battling with trying to figure why I don't have any audio. I messed around with optics and I think the problem is with the amplifier. The sound comes and goes. Also you should not be keeping the volume at a maxium.

I have a another Elmo F16 that I use for spare parts. But I don't think I am ready to strip this Elmo and replace the amplifier section. I don't have a service manuel and it would be a huge undertaking. I will have to build up enough courage to do this maybe when I have more time during the December holidays.

And Barry thank you for your help. Its greatly appreciated.

Posted by Barry Fritz (Member # 1865) on October 31, 2015, 09:26 AM:

Hi Igshaan: It sounds like you might just have a loose connection somewhere. Does this have an external speaker? I am not familiar with your model projector, but most amps are pretty easy to remove. You might want to experiment with the parts projector first. You will usually have a plug to the PEC, a power plug and maybe a speaker plug.

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