8mm Forum: Help! Eiki Elf ST/m front reel always moving

This is topic Help! Eiki Elf ST/m front reel always moving in forum 16mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Heidi Barker (Member # 6191) on November 25, 2018, 03:33 PM:

Can anyone offer some help? I’m not having a lot of luck with projectors [Frown]

I have an elf st/m and when I switch it on, the front arm/reel is essentially rewinding.. it’s the same with the switch in forwards or reverse.
Is this something common? Or an easy fix?
Thanks

Posted by Paul Barker (Member # 4318) on November 25, 2018, 04:04 PM:

hi Heidi. where you thread the film move the black lever to another position. either forward to the red dot or back away from the red dot. you flick this black lever up or down (cant remember which way) when you are fast rewinding a film. your main switch goes to project forward always. its that top black levers position that puts the front arm to either rewind or go forward. hope this makes sense.

Posted by Heidi Barker (Member # 6191) on November 25, 2018, 04:18 PM:

I’m not trying to rewind though, this just when I switch it on, so I can’t thread the machine at all. [Frown]

Posted by Paul Barker (Member # 4318) on November 25, 2018, 04:20 PM:

just move that top black lever to its other position and you will then be able to thread projector.

Posted by Heidi Barker (Member # 6191) on November 25, 2018, 04:25 PM:

So, it’s normal for the front arm to be spinning backwards when the projector is switched on? Sorry , I’ve never had an elf before and my bell and Howell doesn’t move unless I put it in reverse.
Thanks

Posted by Paul Barker (Member # 4318) on November 25, 2018, 04:33 PM:

the front arm is going backwards because of the position of the black top lever. its obviously in position for rewind. you need to change its position. if you still cant figure it out your more than welcome to bring your projector to me. i can give you a full demo.on its workings. were not to far from each other.

Posted by Heidi Barker (Member # 6191) on November 25, 2018, 04:43 PM:

Just had a quick try... Thank you!! Yes when I pulled the black lever back the arm stopped! I’ll try treading something through tomorrow - thanks so much:)

Posted by Paul Barker (Member # 4318) on November 26, 2018, 02:50 AM:

thats great Heidi. that model elf is a lovely machine.i know when you got it off David you were getting a nice machine. let me know how things go.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 26, 2018, 03:13 AM:

Make sure the projector is in stop before you turn that lever one way or the other. [Wink]

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on November 26, 2018, 01:31 PM:

Heidi - How great to have a rare female member here who clearly loves using film! I'm sure I saw you at David's stall around the time you bought the projector, so I'm sorry (particularly as I'm a Eiki/Elf user) that I didn't say hello. It's unfortunate that you didn't appear in the Forum members at Blackpool photo, as you would have added considerable diversity! Maybe next year...

Posted by Heidi Barker (Member # 6191) on November 26, 2018, 02:19 PM:

Ha ha, yes myself and my friend were asked if we were “there with our husbands” I’m trying to spread the word of film to the younger generation through my students on our film production degree.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 26, 2018, 04:20 PM:

you need to spread the word at the uni here in Plymouth.
My Daughters boyfriend was doing some carpentry work at one of the Uni's buildings and he spotted a green B & H projector being used as a door stop, literally. He took a picture to show me and i was amused. I;m trying to locate it so i can grab it and give it a decent home [Big Grin]

Posted by Heidi Barker (Member # 6191) on November 27, 2018, 01:42 PM:

It’s sad isn’t it? I’m trying to do a cine club to film in some 8mm and 16mm but the price of film is putting them off.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 27, 2018, 02:41 PM:

Heidi, dont let prices on ebay put them off, tell them to look at Classic Home Cinema, Independent 8 and Paul foster films websites, also The Reel image website in the states, here you will find films at "normal" collectors prices. Ebay can sometimes be very high & certainly would put new comers off. [Wink]

Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on November 27, 2018, 05:59 PM:

I still have the biggest selection of 16mm projecers in the uk and many will be for sale at my open day at silly prices

Posted by Heidi Barker (Member # 6191) on November 28, 2018, 03:21 AM:

It’s the price of film to film on rather than watch. £30 for 3 mins of B&w reversal for film and developing.. they’re used to filming on digital so it’s a big adjustment.
I’m not sure I’ll be able to get them to collect films but I hope that they’ll enjoy shooting film and then projecting back their projects. I’m trying to convince the university to buy us a blackmagic cinetel scanner - not having a lot of luck at the moment ha ha!

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on November 28, 2018, 04:37 AM:

You are nice and close to Davids Heidi if you can go along.

He has allsorts of things filmie and projector wise.

I think films shooting and developing cost wise you are going to stuggle these days.

But if you can get a Lomo Super 8 and and 16mm deveoping tank, or similar and get people interested in developing as well it can bring the costs and postages etc well down.

Best Mark.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 28, 2018, 05:03 AM:

Heidi

The Elf ST-M was quite an early projector and doesn't have the two position lamp switch on the main control knob as later models have, primarily, as this model has toggle switches!

However, if you open the back (it hinges) you will see a two position switch mounted on the top of the transformer. This is the low/high lamp switch. You can prolong the life of the lamp if you are using a small screen by using the low setting.

As regards the lamp, note that it uses a 200 watts lamp, the EJL, not the ELC as used in later models. Do not fit an ELC (250 watts) as the transformer will overheat and burn out.

Also note that the amplifier will only work when the motor is running. There is no internal speaker so you will have to use the speaker which is inside the removable side cover.

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on November 28, 2018, 05:14 AM:

I heard the ST-M is a really quiet running machine if you get a good one ?

Though never had one myself.

Best Mark.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 28, 2018, 05:45 AM:

Very true, Mark
I have two M1 (manual load), a 16mm, and a Buckingham 9.5mm conversion. They do run with a comforting purr. [Smile]

The ST models are auto load.

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