8mm Forum: SOLVED: How to adjust the claw?

This is topic SOLVED: How to adjust the claw? in forum 9.5mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on October 13, 2013, 01:07 AM:

I set up my Pathe Baby last night to transfer some of my films...but half way through the first cartridge the film would was not being advanced by the claw. I examined the claw and it appears to be working properly. But the sound when I turn the crank is much quieter now compared to right after I replaced the shutter.

Any ideas to what might be happening? The film is a bit curved...but I would guess that the gate when closed would hold the film in place....right? I can shot a video if that would be of any help.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on October 13, 2013, 03:05 AM:

I had once on a Pathé Lux a claw that didn't go out enough. As it was (at this time) a newly bought projector from a know seller, he fixed it (I don't know how but at least you could check if the claw goes out enough to make the film move). It could be a problem with the automatic stop system if the film is damaged. Or a lack of oil (in this case the noise should be louder and not softer but you never know). I don't think it will help you a lot as what I described are basic things that you probably already checked with your experience of projectors but sometimes basics are worth to be reminded :-)

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on October 13, 2013, 01:47 PM:

Thanks Dominique...yes checking the basics first. I do think the claw may not be protruding far enough...but not sure why it was working and not now. I'm hoping someone on the forum might know how to adjust it. The cam seems to be rotating properly... it just seems much quieter...too quiet [Frown]

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on October 14, 2013, 04:19 AM:

I found the shema of the Pathé Baby on a Spanish site (but all the comments are in French) http://renepaulhenry.blogspot.be/2011/05/pathe-baby-suite.html and a short video that shows the Pathé Baby in use (to compare with yours) http://renepaulhenry.blogspot.be/2011/05/pathe-baby-suite.html . Not a direct answer to your question but better than nothing.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on October 14, 2013, 11:50 AM:

Thanks Dominique... Google is great at translating the text :-)I don't see the link for the schema. That would be helpful. As for the video... in comparison... mine is not making the loader constant clicking sound...it's much quieter. The notched film advancement is working and that pushed the claw out further and advances the film nicely... but of course just one frame. Ron Ashton wrote me back and said there is not a direct adjustment for the claw. He's got a book he wrote that describes how the mechanism works. I'm going to order it and see if it can give me a clue to how to fix it. Since it was working he doesn't think there are any missing parts.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on October 14, 2013, 12:42 PM:

I stupidely put twice the same link. Here is the schema : http://pathebaby.blogspot.be/2012/01/reproduccion-de-los-planos-originales.html

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on October 15, 2013, 04:05 PM:

Ron Ashton gave me a tip that seems to have improved the claw action. There was too much back and forth movement in the clawshaft preventing it from protruding as far as it should. By adding a couple of washers between the shutter end of the shaft and the end bracket this stablized the claw and pushed it out further.

I'm still having trouble with some of the films however. The WWI film runs fine through half of the reel then the claw stops engaging and the film just goes straight to the take-up reel. Could be the film is warped too much or the sprocket holes are out of alignment. Anybody else ever had this problem?

Posted by Ken Finch (Member # 2768) on October 17, 2013, 12:22 PM:

Hi Janice, I had a similar problem when I replaced the shutter and did manage to solve it but could not remember how I did it but your last post struck a cord in my memory about adjusting the end play of the main shaft. Anyway, glad you have solved the problem. The one I have is a model G. still hand turned. You will still have problems if the film is badly buckled or warped. Some people have suggested that this can be cured by dunking the film in a bowl of barely luke warm water for a few minutes and then putting it on a film drying frame at room temperature of about 60f or 20c. If it is just the title section, these can sometimes be improved by placing the film between damp cotton sheeting and Ironing it with a warm iron1 Best of luck! Ken Finch.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on October 17, 2013, 12:53 PM:

Thanks Ken for your feedback. Ron mentioned soaking the film in warm water also. Is the Pathex film different than say 8mm actetate film? Is this why just soaking in water is suggested and not a chemical? Also...what's a film drying frame? Is this an important step?

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on October 17, 2013, 04:32 PM:

I would be more than very careful with water on old filmstock ! I had once frames erasing doing so (luckily only a few frames as I saw it immediately).

Posted by Ken Finch (Member # 2768) on October 28, 2013, 09:10 AM:

Hi Janice, Have just returned from holiday, hence late reply. A drying frame ia simply an wooden open drumum made from dowelling onto which you wind the wet film faily loosely as a helix and leave it to dry at room temperature. It a bit like a small clothes drier. It was used by those who did their own processing in the days when we could buy non process paid film. When dry, any it can be treated with a film cleaner. The film is on an acetate base. Luke warm water MUST be used, otherwise the emulsion will soften and it should be immersed only few a few minutes and handled only by the edges. It may only be necessary to treat the first few feet of the film as in my experience it is often the the only part requiring treatment.
Hope this answers your question. Ken Finch. [Smile]

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on October 28, 2013, 12:21 PM:

Ken...Thank you for the descripton of the drying frame. I will keep it in mind if I have to make one...However, it looks like my film condition wasn't the source of my problem...but rather the hub in the take-up chamber wasn't turning freely and the film was binding up.

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