8mm Forum: Bolex 18-5 Super with cord - and new gate noise video!

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Topic: Bolex 18-5 Super with cord - and new gate noise video!

Andy Katz
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Madison, NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2013

posted January 25, 2013 07:33 PM

Hi! First post!

I was wondering if anyone tried using a 2-prong cord like this one in place of the missing Bolex cord?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Roland-2P-AC1-2-Prong-AC-Cable-with-Square-End-100 821230-i1128372.gc

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted January 25, 2013 07:49 PM

Welcome to the forum! The slots need to be closer together and I think they are too small on the cord you showed. It's quite hard to find a replacement cord for that projector, I've done a lot of searching in the past.

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Richard Bock
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 239
From: El Cerrito,CA,USA
Registered: Jan 2010

posted January 26, 2013 09:45 AM

Here's where I got my 18-5L part for an upgrade to halogen, but Jesse Chambliss might have the power cord or be able to advise as they specialize in Bolex projectors.

http://www.chamblesscineequip.com/

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Andy Katz
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Madison, NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2013

posted January 26, 2013 12:30 PM

I guess it pays to buy a second projector with a cord, and use whatever parts from it to make a nice complete one? New cord on the Chamblis site is $50 with shipping and handling. Used projector on eBay is usually the same price, with cord, reels, etc.

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted January 26, 2013 05:38 PM

That's what I did Andy, I built one really nice projector out of two. If yours is working good look for one with a cord that needs work.

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Andy Katz
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Madison, NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2013

posted January 28, 2013 09:46 AM

I just bought an older working 18-5L, with cord and take up reels, for $35 plus shipping.

Since mine is inherited from my uncle, and has the older halogen bulb, I'll use the cord, and just sell the older working one without the cord, to get some money back!

We're not talking a fortune here, but I really don't have the room for several Bolex's and my Elmo FP8-c!

[ February 06, 2013, 10:57 AM: Message edited by: Andy Katz ]

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Andy Katz
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Madison, NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2013

posted February 06, 2013 10:43 AM

As an update, turns out the "newer" 18-5L I got was an inoperable POS! It did come with a cord, and needed take up reel. So, I took the belts old off of it, and put them into my Uncle's 18-5 Super (1965). The pulley on this one has melted belt material on it from sitting in a Florida garage for 20 years. I tried my best to scrape off the debris, but it's not perfect.

How hard is it to swap the pulley? The non-working 18-5L has a nicer clean pulley.

Otherwise, I tried out the 18-5 Super last night. It works great, sharpest Super 8 images I've ever seen! Only it's pretty noisy - as if the sprockets may be hitting the gate (or something)?

It can also use some lube - do I grease the plastic gears and oil whatever think may need it?

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted February 06, 2013 11:01 AM

I tnink a really clean 18-5, fully functional and cosmetically new, with new belts and with the HI-FI lens and power cord would be worth a minimum of $150.00. I know I would not sell mine for less as these are truly magnificent machines.

--------------------
The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted February 06, 2013 12:30 PM

Andy, I put white lithium grease on the gears and sewing machine oil (Mineral Oil) on the bearings. That machine should not be very noisy and the grease should help with that. Make sure you don't use too much oil and grease, it will get tossed around and make a mess in your projector.

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Andy Katz
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Madison, NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2013

posted February 06, 2013 12:42 PM

Thanks Bryan. Right now, my projector sounds like a roulette wheel spinning when it runs, will grease help that? Or could it be a mechanical problem?

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted February 06, 2013 12:58 PM

I would try the grease and see what happens. There are also gears in the reel arms but they are a bit of a pain to get seated when you put it back together. Try everything else first.

Another thing you may want to look at is the fan behind the motor. If something is rubbing it may make the sound you are talking about.

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Andy Katz
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Madison, NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2013

posted February 06, 2013 01:05 PM

I'll give the grease and oil a try!

Anything I should do to the film path - clean with alcohol, etc?

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted February 06, 2013 01:29 PM

I clean the film path with rubbing alcohol and then lube it with bees wax. Make sure you are using 100% pure bees wax, if not it may have stuff in it that will be harmful to your film or projector. Rub a little on then wipe off the excess.

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Andy Katz
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Madison, NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2013

posted February 06, 2013 01:33 PM

Bee's wax, eh? Is that available in the Dr. Seuss section?

But seriously, how would I best get in to the tight film path spots - Q tip, or what?

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted February 06, 2013 01:49 PM

The super 8 projectors are kind of difficult due to the auto load parts. Most of the parts pull apart far enough to get a Q-tip in there for cleaning and bees wax application. The only problem with Q-tips is you don't want to end up with loose fibers floating around in your projector. If you are careful it can be done.

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Andy Katz
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Madison, NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2013

posted February 06, 2013 02:07 PM

These things are pretty durable though. My uncle's 18-5 (now mine) sat, un-used, for about 20 years - mostly in a humid garage - never turned on due to the lost cord.

When I finally got it and found a cord, I put the newer belts on, plugged it in, and it immediately came to life, as if it was just used yesterday!

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Andy Katz
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Madison, NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2013

posted February 06, 2013 07:20 PM

So the noise isn't grease related. It's something with the gate. When I open the lens holder and swing it away, the noise stops. Also, when I run the projector in reverse, the noise stops. Move it in to forward, and the noise starts again.

Here is a video I took of the noise by manually tapping the gate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXsLvNRd680

The gate on my parts doner 18-5L is much quieter when I tap it. Can I do a gate transfer? Could my gate be missing a spring? Any Ideas?

[ February 06, 2013, 08:45 PM: Message edited by: Andy Katz ]

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted February 07, 2013 11:44 AM

It sounds like the claw may be hitting something. You can advance it slowly by hand with everything opened and possibly see what is going on. I had one that had a bent shutter blade that made a racket. I just needed to bend the piece of metal a little and it stopped. I have never had to repair the claw, maybe someone else on the forum can give you some advice on that.

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Andy Katz
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Madison, NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2013

posted February 07, 2013 11:53 AM

I had a thought. The claw adjustment knob that moves the claw vertically to center the frame - could this be adjusted both on the high side, or the low side? I think I cranked mine all the way one way, to get the frames to show one at a time. Could it be I have to turn it the other way - to keep the claw from hitting the top or bottom of the gate??

[ February 07, 2013, 01:20 PM: Message edited by: Andy Katz ]

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted February 07, 2013 01:42 PM

I think that moves the lens up and down. I could be wrong, I don't have mine in front of me at the moment.

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Andy Katz
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Madison, NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2013

posted February 07, 2013 01:54 PM

The literature says the knob moves the claw up and down, to catch the film higher or lower. Since the projector is in near mint shape, and built like a tank, I bet MY ADJUSTMENT screwed up the claw!

If I back the knob off, and center the frame higher, I bet that moves the claw to the center of the gate, fixing my noise!

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted February 07, 2013 02:54 PM

Let us know how it turns out. I would still clean the film path, grease the gears and oil the bearings for good measure.

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Andy Katz
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Madison, NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2013

posted February 07, 2013 02:55 PM

Will do!

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Barry Fritz
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1061
From: Burnsville, MN, USA
Registered: Dec 2009

posted February 07, 2013 11:07 PM

That knob is how you adjust the frame. To clean the black goo, get a full pack of Q Tips and laquer thinner. It will immediately clean the goo. Follow precautions on can......no flame and good ventilation. Acetone is second best.

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Andy Katz
Junior
Posts: 17
From: Madison, NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2013

posted February 08, 2013 08:26 AM

I used lighter fluid to get most of the goo off the pulley.

The noise isn't related to the framer knob. It seems to be the claw hitting the pressure pad when the film goes through. With no film, it runs quieter.

For all I know the projector could have been dropped many times in the moves my Uncle made?

Not sure what to do, other than using my trusty Elmo FP8-C and mothballing the Bolex. Is there a way to take the gate/pressure plate off, to swap it with my newer doner projector?

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