8mm Forum: Bolex 18-5 Super Light Issue

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Topic: Bolex 18-5 Super Light Issue

Tim Burgess
Junior
Posts: 5
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: May 2015

posted May 12, 2015 10:36 AM

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I’m putting my Bolex 18-5 Super Projector back in service after may years of rest. The bulb fires up when the selector switch is rotated to “18” (photo 1)

but no light seems to penetrate the film frame aperture (photo 2)

and no light emits from the lens (photo 3).

I’ve tried adjusting the bulb carrier horizontally and vertically but this doesn’t allow light through the frame aperture. Any suggestions on what the problem is and what to do?

Thanks in advance for any help!

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

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

posted May 12, 2015 10:39 AM

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It's like there's something at the back of the lens that's blocking the light.

Can you take the lens out and see what's going on back there?

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

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Barry Fritz
Phenomenal Film Handler

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

posted May 12, 2015 01:33 PM

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Light is visible through the aperture so, like Steve says, it must be in the lens area. The pressure plate looks ok. Pull the lens out and check it. Weird.

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

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

posted May 12, 2015 01:51 PM

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It's almost like there is some damper closed in there to block the light.

I've never seen aperture fuzz or lens fungus get that opaque!

Could be the beginnings of a tiny black hole inside the lens...

-I suggest you get that projector out of the house...if not the Solar System!

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

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Barry Fritz
Phenomenal Film Handler

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

posted May 12, 2015 05:34 PM

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On second look, it appears that the pressure plate opening is way lower than the aperture opening. Have you tried cranking the framer up or down?

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Jose Artiles
Master Film Handler

Posts: 357
From: Spain
Registered: Oct 2005

posted May 12, 2015 05:38 PM

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perhaps the lamp is not fully seated in position , check that the base of the lamp is fully rotated into position

--------------------
As Steven Spielberg says....
Nothing beats old school projection. Digital is just an imitation.

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Lindsay Morris
Film Handler

Posts: 87
From: Darlington, WA, Australia
Registered: Jul 2013

posted May 13, 2015 04:32 AM

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It might sound silly but IS the motor running??? As if NOT then the shutter is possibly in the closed position = NO light.

If the projector has an Inching Knob just gently rotate that to move the mechanism slightly forward or backward to get the shutter blade out of the way.
Not familiar with that model Bolex but many machines that have Still Frame facilities often do NOT stop with the shutter EXACTLY open so one has to use the Inching Knob to move it slightly.

--------------------
Lindsay

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

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

posted May 13, 2015 05:27 AM

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That was exactly my first reaction to it, but as I was typing the post I realized the gate is bright on the shutter side so the light is getting past the shutter.

This has the feel of something simple that once you find it you say "Of course!".

-we just aren't there yet!

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

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frank arnstein
Jedi Master Film Handler

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

posted May 13, 2015 05:40 AM

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I think that Jose is correct. It looks like the lamp is not correctly located. It needs turning further clockwise to point it directly at the aperture hole. Try doing that.

dogtor frankarnstein [Wink]

[Wink]

[Smile]

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Tim Burgess
Junior
Posts: 5
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: May 2015

posted May 13, 2015 04:42 PM

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Appreciate all the kind suggestions. Sorry for delay in responding. Storm moved through and took out power lines so have had no electricity until last hour or so. Didn't connect (duh!) that when light was ON the motor should have been turning the front reel axle. I manually turned the axle with my fingers while the power switch was in the 18 position and the light promptly went off and since then won't light up in any switch position. Removed the fuse. Fuse OK. Placed the fuse back in receiver. Removed back cover. No belt connecting drive motor pulley to upper pulley! The drive motor spins the drive pulley fine and gears down to slower speed when switch is moved to "5". Twisting the inching knob at the front of the projector turns the wheel that rotates though the light gate and spins the drive gear that rotates the sprocket gears that rotate the front reel axle and drives the chain the rotates the rear reel axle.

So, I surely need to find where I can get the belts that connect the drive motor lower pulley to the upper pulley that spins the wheel and the gears that drive the reels. I must have somehow blown the projector bulb by manually turning the front reel axle (can't what made that happen) so will need a reliable source for a new bulb.

Can any of you suggest sources? Anyone tell me why the bulb apparently blew?

Appreciate all the help I can get. Again thanks in advance.

Tim Burgess

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Barry Fritz
Phenomenal Film Handler

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

posted May 13, 2015 05:05 PM

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You will need three belts. The replacements are nothing more than O rings. Isellprojectorbelts on eBay has them but if you have an old one or broken one for reference, bring it to a hardware store and get three similar size ones for less than a buck each. eBay is likely best source for the lamp but hold onto your hat. You will be lucky to get one for less than $30.00.

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Tim Burgess
Junior
Posts: 5
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: May 2015

posted May 13, 2015 05:51 PM

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Thanks for the tip Barry. No remnants of belts inside projector case. Found the ebay source you suggested and will try it. Any recommendations for a reliable seller of bulbs?

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Barry Fritz
Phenomenal Film Handler

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

posted May 13, 2015 07:55 PM

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I just measured my belts. They are 1.8 inches, outside diameter, and .10 inches thickness. My Ace hardware has O rings that size. As for the lamp, EBay I go with best deal. As for an online retailer, replacementlightbulbs.com is as good as I have found.

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Tim Burgess
Junior
Posts: 5
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: May 2015

posted May 13, 2015 09:22 PM

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Barry, thanks again. Will try the O-rings. I found these at ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Bolex-18-5-18-5L-Projector-3-Square-Motor-Belts/181249390397?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D309 87%26meid%3Da1b3b4fbda98407198bc83aefd23bcf5%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D111502494486&rt=nc and the seller says they are square and new in the box. Does "square" make any difference?

Also, the bulb in the projector is marked as a "Phillips 8 V 50 W C5 13120C/04 made in Holland." I was surprised when I saw these markings. Is this correct for 60 cycle AC current and voltage 110-117.5-125 V?

Again, thanks in advance for your knowledge shared.

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Barry Fritz
Phenomenal Film Handler

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

posted May 14, 2015 12:00 AM

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Those belts are like the originals. I have bought from him and he is reputable. Others may sell the O ring type and they work fine also. That is a good price for the three belts.
The lamp is fine. For replacement, look for a CXR lamp.

When you install the three belts, you need to loop all three of them over the top pulleys first, and then loop them over the lower pulleys in turn.

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Tim Burgess
Junior
Posts: 5
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: May 2015

posted May 14, 2015 11:28 AM

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You are the MAN! Thanks for your help.

Tim

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Barry Fritz
Phenomenal Film Handler

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

posted May 14, 2015 06:35 PM

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You are welcome! You're prolly aware of this site, but if not, just click on a projector in the list to read about that particular model.
http://www.bolexcollector.com/projectors.html

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