8mm Forum: Newbie looking for some pointers

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Posted by Paul Pawuk (Member # 4496) on April 04, 2015, 02:36 PM:

Hello - I'm relatively new the forum. I joined in October but have been mainly reading what others have posted. I have a Bell & Howell Autoload 356A that isn't loading the film. I'm suspecting that the belts are either bad or need to be lubricated. I'm extremely nervous to try to take apart the projector since I don't have any of the manuals (and so far can't find one online).

Assuming that I get the projector disassembled I'm not sure what type of lubricant I'll need to apply (WD-40?) and where is the best place to add it.

I'm primarily looking at using the projector to try to archive the Super 8 home movies my parents have. I'll eventually need to try to pick up an 8mm projector as well to convert some 8mm films I have. To do this I'm planning on using my Sony HD Handycam with possibly an old "Goldbeam" The Producer I model GV-10 transfer unit (my parent had it - I've never used it). I'm new to it all so I could really use some tips about recommended software (I'm guessing I'll have some frame rate issues), format (is there any advantage to converting to Blu-ray format vs DVD?), etc.. My dream would be to have the final product to have an added audio dialog of my parents describing what we're seeing (but that's another project).

So I have a lot of questions right now and any help I could get would be appreciated.

Thank you. I hope to learn a lot.

Posted by Barry Fritz (Member # 1865) on April 04, 2015, 02:51 PM:

Hi Paul. I don't know much about that projector but I believe it is new enough that it does not need much lubrication. In any event, WD-40 should NOT be used. I would recommend ZOOM turbine oil. Find it online or at Ace Hardware stores and many others. You really should try and obtain a manual for it. Try Ebay and save your search.

If that projector does not have a variable speed control and/or the Sony does not have an electronic shudder or something called "Syncro Scan", you will get a lot of flicker when you try the transfer. Others will chime in, but Google "DIY telecine transfer" and read about how it can be done (there are various different ways of transferring). Ebay also has an article on how to do it. Additionally, use this forum's search feature to find threads regarding that topic. Best of luck.

Posted by Paul Pawuk (Member # 4496) on April 04, 2015, 02:55 PM:

Thank you Barry for the quick feedback. I'll definitely look into the links you mentioned. The projector itself is probably 45 years old and hasn't to my knowledge ever been lubricated.

Posted by Barry Fritz (Member # 1865) on April 04, 2015, 07:48 PM:

Paul,
Whatever you do, DON'T lubricate any belts, as you indicated above!

Generally speaking, if a projector needed lubrication by the user, there would be small holes in various positions near sprocket shafts and reel spindles, for example. These little holes were usually painted red. Also, there were little chrome reservoirs with spring load caps that you would lift up to squirt oil into. If you don't see anything like I described you will likely have to remove the back to see if there is some area that you could lube. Synthetic or lithium grease on the gears would not hurt. DO NOT over lubricate. Did this machine ever work while you had it?

Posted by Paul Pawuk (Member # 4496) on April 05, 2015, 11:30 AM:

It used to work well for my dad when he had it but it hasn't been used in probably 20 years. Right now the autoload isn't taking up the film.

Posted by Barry Fritz (Member # 1865) on April 05, 2015, 12:00 PM:

Autoloads had different methods of loading. With some, you put the control on FORWARD and then put the end of the film into the opening for feeding the film. On others, you would not put the control in the FORWARD position, but instead you would press down on the top of the autofeed bracket on top of the upper sprocket while inserting the film. By pressing down on that bracket the sprockets would start turning. In either case, it is important that the end of the film you are feeding is trimmed, and is straight.

Posted by Paul Pawuk (Member # 4496) on April 06, 2015, 09:22 AM:

The sprocket near the autoload is not spinning. It makes me think that something needs to be lubricated or something is wrong with a belt. So far I cannot find a 356a Bell and Howell manual either online or on ebay (I can find a 356 but don't know enough about the projector to know if it's compatible enough).

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on April 06, 2015, 12:37 PM:

Belts should be one of the first things we always check on projectors, as more than one "pulley" or sprocket will be affected by a bad or non-existent belt, (though not all projectors work with belts, as there are some that operate merely with gears).

Question : Is it only that one thing that doesn't move, or a number of things that do not move altogether? If so, definitely a belt, if it's only one thing that is not turning, while everything else is, that is another whole problem altogether.

Posted by Barry Fritz (Member # 1865) on April 06, 2015, 03:39 PM:

The 356a is likely a 356 with the auto load feature. It would be good to get that manual as the mechanicals would be essentially the same.

Posted by Paul Pawuk (Member # 4496) on April 07, 2015, 01:09 PM:

Thanks for the advice. I'll try to get the manual for the 356 unit. I'll look into the sprocket tonight. I don't recall if it's just the one not moving or a couple.

Posted by Barry Fritz (Member # 1865) on April 07, 2015, 10:40 PM:

With it in forward, all sprockets and the take-up spindle should be turning.

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