8mm Forum: Elmo ST-1200HD Film Jumping

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Topic: Elmo ST-1200HD Film Jumping

Robert Carr
Junior
Posts: 4
From: Grosse Pointe Park, MI, USA
Registered: Nov 2014

posted November 25, 2014 05:27 PM

Bought an ST-1200HD on Ebay. Replaced the belts. (Except the shutter wheel belt that I just couldn't figure out.) The thing purrs compared to my Eumig 822... until I put film into it.

Something is wrong. The film jumps and the projector makes a loud chattering noise that sounds as though it would like to dice the film. I gather that it is likely that I have an issue with the claw. If someone on this forum could point me in the direction of a cure, I would much appreciate it!

Thank you!

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Bob Carr

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 25, 2014 05:50 PM

Hi Robert (Bob?) and welcome.

When I first got my ST-1200 I was tripped up by he fact that especially when you are using a 1200 foot reel, you have to manually release the machine from threading mode. The film bouncing against the threading guide makes a chattering sound.

My other Elmo releases automatically when I change to "forward, lamp" or "stop" so this caught me a few times.

When you are all threaded up, are you pressing the little black handle down under the take-up reel?

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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John Capazzo
Master Film Handler

Posts: 421
From: Hillside, NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted November 25, 2014 06:12 PM

Robert,

Swing the lens out and look at the alignment of the claw. Is it inside the narrow slot? If not, you can gently push it with a putty knife to get it centered. The inching knob in the front moves the claw manually. It's worked for me. --John

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"the image is about 30 feet ahead of us."

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Robert Carr
Junior
Posts: 4
From: Grosse Pointe Park, MI, USA
Registered: Nov 2014

posted November 25, 2014 06:57 PM

Thanks, John.

Looked at the claw. Turned the projector on and felt it run against my finger. Thing ran like silk.

But upon running the projector with film it kept doing what it was doing. The image sort of "jumps" with an awful clatter. Perhaps the claw is grabbing sometimes and not others? Perhaps something is not keeping that claw tight to the holes in the film?

The pictures below probably do a poor job of displaying the situation. You can see the claw protruding through the slot and the perforations in the film. There is also a picture of the image on the screen -- that black line isn't from a picture that needs to be framed but travels up and down. This occurs at 18fps and 24fps.

In response to Steve's thoughts, the film I am running is somebody's 50' home movie that involves hand pushed Hot Wheels cars. Definitely a sacrificial film of choice!

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Bob Carr

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frank arnstein
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 534
From: Gold Coast. Australia
Registered: Jan 2005

posted November 26, 2014 02:34 AM

Hi Robert,

Your middle picture may hold the answer but it's not clear enough to tell for sure.

Have a close look at the claw pins when they poke through the slot. It looks to me like a bunch of fluff is on the pins. Get a small brush and clean the pins all the way to their base. Use evaporative spirit to flush it clean.

See how it runs after you have removed any debris from the claw.

dogtor frankarnstein
[Smile]

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At Projector Heaven the Focus is always on Detail.

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[o:/o]<|=- dogtor@projectorheaven.com.au
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John Capazzo
Master Film Handler

Posts: 421
From: Hillside, NJ USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted November 26, 2014 06:14 PM

I was just going to tell you to clean the area before I've read Frank's response. A lot of dust. It should be cleaned after a couple of hours of viewing. If you have household isopropyl alcohol, use that; or air jet. It doesn't look like the claw is out of alignment. Did you manually try the inching knob to see if it's hitting the plate when the machine was off? If it's still clanging, remove the silver plate. Four phillips head screws to remove; then look at it.

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"the image is about 30 feet ahead of us."

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Leon Norris
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 958
From: Elkins Park, PA, USA
Registered: Jun 2012

posted November 29, 2014 03:33 PM

Hey Robert my name is Leon Norris and I would like for you to send me your phone number so that I can help you with your machine I will call you so make sure that you email me back thank you Leon's Elmo Projector Repair

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 29, 2014 03:47 PM

Robert is new to the forum so I would like him to know that Leon Norris is the resident Elmo expert in the USA. Leon was a projector technician at Elmo, and his expertise and knowledge of the Elmo series projectors is second to none, and his repair service can be recommended by numerous members of this and other film forums. Leon will keep your Elmo GS or ST in top running condition, and he stocks all the spare parts.

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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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Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 29, 2014 04:42 PM

Robert,

Please let us know if Frank & John's advice did the trick.

Doug

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I think there's room for just one more film.....

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