8mm Forum: Bell and Howell MX60 Help

This is topic Bell and Howell MX60 Help in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Pat Small (Member # 4385) on July 27, 2014, 07:49 AM:

I'm trying to get this projector to work without a manual or any previous experience with this kind of projector. The fan and lamp do come on and once in a while the reel will spin. I have gotten the mechanism that is suppose to move the film to work once or twice but the film didn't actually move! So lots of questions:
1) The feed spool - why doesn't it securely push onto the pin? It just seems to flop around. I see three slots on the reel and I see two extrusion around the pin but it sure doesn't seem to mate properly.
2) It doesn't attempt to autofeed at all.
3) What is the manual feed path ?
4) Any ideas why the feeding mechanism works sometimes and not others (maybe a switch that detect the film)
Very frustrating.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on July 28, 2014, 12:56 AM:

Hi Pat...Welcome to the forums.

Without actually seeing how your projector is behaving I'll attempt to offer some suggestions that you can try.

1. The MX60 is a dual format projector. If you are using Super 8mm film you will have to use a S8mm adapter since the hole on S8mm is bigger. Regular 8mm does not need the adapter.

2. If the auto feed doesn't catch it could be that the film is bent on the end preventing it for entering the gate easily. Try inserting the film before starting the projector....you can remove the front cover to observe how the film is entering the gate. This projector does not have manual threading.

3. If the belt is stretched this can cause all sorts of bad behavior. If the belt isn't tight enough the gears will turn sporadically and sometimes not at all. This will effect auto feed...forward motion...reverse..and rewind. The only way I have found to install a new belt in this type of projector is to make one from material I buy from Urbanski's. It's not easy [Frown]

4. If your belt is good then there is an adjustment you can make on the take-up reel. My photo is of a MX33, but the MX60 is very similiar. Remove the take-up reel and locate a small plastic nut. Try tightening this slightly (turn to the right using a 1/4" hex socket) to see if the take-up reel engages and starts spinning.

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