Help moving Specto 500 projector lens

[Geoff Nichol]

Hi I have just acquired a Specto 500 XD. It looks in good condition apart from being seized solid , no motor drive belt and the projection lens being fully retracted in to its housing.
Seized solid slowly being cured by copious application of wd40 and oil via the rewind lever hole.
Motor belt ordered.
But how to get the projection lens to move for focusing? See photo.

[Daniel Bottom]

Hi Geoff, I have one of these projectors.

My lens can also be in the same position that yours is in currently. The lens is held in place by a ball bearing and a leaf spring that can be seen when you retract the claw, release the screw holding the gate to the body of the projector and swing the gate outward. What I do to extract it is put my finger fully into the lens and then apply pressure against the lens housing with thumb and pull outward.

Failing this carefully remove the screw that holds the ball bearing, and go from there, perhaps with a very little oil to help.

[Daniel Bottom]

The gearbox on this projector can also be removed with a little persuasion if needed and opened. The grease inside has probably turned into loctite and needs to be removed.

[Geoff Nichol]

I'm a bit reluctant to open the gear box after reading some other posts. The mech now turns using the inch wheel. I will have a go at the lens in the morning. Thanks for the info.

[Geoff Nichol]

Removing the ball-bearing worked a treat. The lens was bit reluctant to move, some previous lubricant had dried solid. The screw that holds the gate to the body needed some serious application of wd40 and heat to free it, was worried that it would shear.