8mm Forum: Bought two dual 8 projectors with broken drive belts. Suggestions?

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Posted by Frank lverson (Member # 5199) on April 13, 2016, 05:26 PM:

Greetings,

I am new to the 8mm/Super 8 world. Been looking to preserve old 8mm films I find during my thrift store adventures.

I bought two projectors over the past year. I bought a gaf Anscovision 588 dual projector off eBay for about 40-50 bucks. The drive belt gave out after a couple days use. This weekend I scored a Emdeko EM-9000 dual 8 projector from a thrift store for $12. I knew the drive belt was also shot, but I picked it up for parts, an extra bulb in box, and the manual.

Anyway, I need a Tilton 1/4 x 7 3/4 s5a belt. They go on eBay for about $20. Do I have any alternatives or is this my only option? If I'm forced to go the eBay route, should I guy a genuine Tilton belt or a newer made knock off?

Also, the rubber tires that spin the reels are moldy and cracking. ( http://i63.tinypic.com/2m6na50.jpg ) They already fell apart on my gaf projector. What are the best ways to go about finding replacements?

Thank you!

Posted by Will Trenfield (Member # 5321) on April 13, 2016, 06:05 PM:

You could try using a rubber "O" ring rather than the Tilton belt on the GAF. Those "grips" you mention fell apart on mine as well. I found a plastic tube of the same size as the original, sawed a bit off and, once fitted, it worked fine. Look around your hardware store for any spacers, tubing etc which would fit. Good luck.

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on April 13, 2016, 07:25 PM:

I used windshield washer tubing. I just cut the pieces to size and they work great. You can buy it buy the foot at ace hardware. This will give you enough to fix several GAF's like I did. As far as the belts, ace hardware also unless they are big then go to Home Depot. I get a lot of rollers, belts, pulleys etc from Ace's hardware dept.

Posted by Barry Fritz (Member # 1865) on April 14, 2016, 12:35 PM:

O rings gnerally will work fine where a pulley with a groove is involved. The Tilton belts that I am familiar with that are on Ampros are wide, thin and flat and run on pulleys that are flat, wihout grooves. I'm not sure an O ring would work. However, ACE hardware has a good selection of them for less than a dollar so you don't have much to loose by trying one.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on April 14, 2016, 05:37 PM:

I've used o-rings on these GAF machines and they do work. Just make sure the belt is tight and does not slip.

If you want to take your chance at making your own belt. You can use flat uranthane belt material. I join the ends using a soldering iron.
http://www.amazon.com/High-Performance-Urethane-Belting-Length-Orange/dp/B006IZYMTQ/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1460675046&sr=8-8&keywords=urethane+belting

Posted by Will Trenfield (Member # 5321) on April 14, 2016, 07:23 PM:

The expertise of members on here in resourcing alternative parts for our ancient machines is gobsmacking as we might say in the UK.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on April 14, 2016, 07:33 PM:

Good set of true enthusiasts of our hobby here Will. You won't find anywhere else quite like it!

There really is someone for everything here in the Cinematography world! [Smile]

It really is quite remarkable at times!

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