8mm Forum: Help with Specto 9.5mm Projector

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Topic: Help with Specto 9.5mm Projector

Michael Wright
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 184
From: Chorley, Lancashire, England
Registered: Dec 2008

posted December 10, 2011 08:42 AM

My specto has started to run very slowly (4 or 5 fps) or not at all. I've tried turning the mechanism via the inching knob and that seems ok, so I'm guessing it could be the motor. What do you think I should try first? MIKE

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John Davis
Master Film Handler

Posts: 286
From: Dunfermline, Fife, UK
Registered: Jun 2008

posted December 10, 2011 12:04 PM

Hi Michael,
I don't know the mechanical side too much but have you tried the speed control dial?
The other option is making sure the rewind lever on the top has been returned to the forward position after rewinding.
Failing this it probably is more in the realm of the more mechanically minded,
John

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Dino Everette
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1535
From: Long Beach, CA USA
Registered: Dec 2008

posted December 10, 2011 12:26 PM

John has a very good suggestion as it took me a few runs on my first Specto to figure out that the forward/rewind did not always engage properly. I usually try to over-crank it back after rewinding to make sure it engages, otherwise it could slow down in the middle of a screening, which was frightening the first time it happened.

The odds are that will fix it as these Specto's are like little tanks...The only other things I would suggest is i try to regularly oil the gear box which is the same hole that the rewind lever is in... I use a little oil bottle with a long needle spout...

I would also check the brushes on the motor just to make sure they are not loose and affecting current on the motor.

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"You're too Far Out Miss Lawrence"

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Lee Mannering
Film God

Posts: 3216
From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006

posted December 11, 2011 03:25 AM

1: Remove the rubber drive belt and run the motor trying to get it up to full steam. If the motor will not reach full power its likely to be the two brushes each side of the motor. When these became unavailable we started buying washing machine brushes and filing them down to fit the Specto motor. One word of warning. The two black retaining hubs which hold the brushes in place are bakelite and will crack very easily so I tend to put one drop of fine oil in the groove to lubricate the thread then leave overnight before attempting removal to help lubricate.

2: If the motor does run at full speed it may well be the grease within the sealed gearing unit has gone solid possibly causing drag within it. Opening that unit is a job for a specialist and not for the fain hearted.

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Michael Wright
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 184
From: Chorley, Lancashire, England
Registered: Dec 2008

posted December 11, 2011 04:58 AM

Thanks everyone, I'll try the easy jobs first and see what happens. MIKE

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Michael Wright
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 184
From: Chorley, Lancashire, England
Registered: Dec 2008

posted December 15, 2011 04:16 AM

The tip about the rewind handle proved to be a good one. It is now running much faster, but not quite up to speed. Going to try the lubrication tips next. Thanks again. MIKE

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Dino Everette
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1535
From: Long Beach, CA USA
Registered: Dec 2008

posted December 15, 2011 11:51 AM

Michael
yes as lee said do NOT open up the gearbox unless you know exactly what you are doing because 2 things are guaranteed to happen... The gasket is most definitely going to break/crack/crumble and you will have to produce a new one out of thin air, and you will have the dickens of a time sealing it back up and getting all the gears back in the places they sit....

As for the lubrication, do not be afraid to over lubricate the gearbox (especially at first) as it will help dislodge any dried up grease...I ran mine with paper towels under neath it to catch all the dripping oil for the first year or so to make sure that it was getting all of the proper lube to run smoothly, and i have been running it for years at least once a week ever since...It will run quieter as well when it is heavily lubed...I actually use regular motor oil so as to keep the cost down...

At first I had a small clear tube that I filled with oil and watched it as it ran so I could replace it when it dropped too low, now I just squirt in some out of a micro tip applicator before each show......

DO NOT be afraid when you see the oil leaking out all over the place because if you notice the gearbox is designed with all sorts of "escape routes" where spindles are turning. I think originally it was designed to NOT need lubrication because of the type of grease they put in, but I don't think they expected them to be running 6o years later..

Best
Dino

I love my Specto, and you will too....I have a couple of other mods if interested that will help you in the long run...

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"You're too Far Out Miss Lawrence"

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Ken Finch
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 543
From: Herne Bay, Kent. U.K.
Registered: Oct 2011

posted December 15, 2011 03:08 PM

Hi Michael. The Specto was always one of the most popular projectors with us old 9.5ers. I have a fiend who has had one since at least 1950. His is a Specto 500 and recently had the same problem as you and discovered after lengthy investigation that the motor windings had burned out. Cost of rewinds is astronomical these days so he replaced it with one from a 16mm machine which he picked up quite cheaply at a Group 9.5 "Get Together" There is little demand for the 16mm versions and they sell much cheaper than the cost of a rewind. Added to which they do not seem to have had as much usage as the 9.5mm ones. It doesn't matter which model as all the motors were the same except that the very last 16mm models had a different casing. Hope this is of help af you are still in trouble with yours.

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Clinton Hunt
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 845
From: Waharoa,North Island,New Zealand
Registered: May 2010

posted December 15, 2011 03:14 PM

Hi guys, I recently bought one of these great machines on Trademe in new Zealand and yeah it runs really well, I too was caughtout with the rewind lever not fully released and my film ran really slow, but now a quick check before screening and it runs well. I have about 4 small films with a runtime of about 1 1/2 mins each, very short running time but I decided not to put them all on one reel as each came with its original box!
And I have a reel with various films that runs for about 11 mins.
Some of the films are getting worn and scratched but what else do you expect for a film thats over 60 years old.

What are the other tips you have Dino?

Cheers,
Clinton

--------------------
Cheers from me in New Zealand :-)

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Dino Everette
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1535
From: Long Beach, CA USA
Registered: Dec 2008

posted December 15, 2011 11:58 PM

Clinton I wrote about them and posted a picture of them here..

My Specto Mods

But i have also modified the lamp over to a 300watt halogen

and i use my film-o-clean with it to get the clearest / cleanest 9.5 shows around...

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"You're too Far Out Miss Lawrence"

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Michael Wright
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 184
From: Chorley, Lancashire, England
Registered: Dec 2008

posted December 16, 2011 12:30 PM

Thanks Dino and everyone else who responded. Dino, what lamp did you use for the conversion? My projector uses a 30volt lamp which is now expensive and difficult to to find. MIKE

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Dino Everette
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1535
From: Long Beach, CA USA
Registered: Dec 2008

posted December 17, 2011 02:14 AM

yes that was one of the main reasons I made the switch so I could just easily (and inexpensively) keep plenty of lamps around...

Because my main one happened to be a specially ordered Specto from France it was wired for 110v. I removed the resistance that dropped the voltage down for the old lamp and just ran the wires (at 110v) straight to a QLV-1 lamp socket (it is spaced for GX5.3 MR16)then I just put in an ELH 300w 120v since it has its own reflector and fits the sizing of the condenser glass perfectly. Without the resistance in the way the motor fan perfectly cools the lamp. The sockets costs around $5-$10 and the bulbs about $10 US

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"You're too Far Out Miss Lawrence"

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Michael Wright
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 184
From: Chorley, Lancashire, England
Registered: Dec 2008

posted December 20, 2011 03:29 AM

Interesting conversion that Dino has done. Does anyone know of a similar lamp that will run on 230 volts?
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ON 8mm FORUM.
MIKE.

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