HELP Elmo 16-AL keeps tearing up film

[Andrew Bauer]

Hey everyone back in April I bought this Elmo 16-AL and replaced the original melted rollers with new ones from Larry Urbanski but I’m noticing a fault going on with some films that I need to address, my projector keeps getting stuck and tearing into films and it’s doing this with band new leader! Is it due to more old roller residue? Is something not in adjustment? I’m at my wits end and I’m ready to ship the dang thing to a repairman!
This projector HATES anything that isn’t 100% perfect! My Kodak Pageant that I’ve had since 2009 may be cumbersome to set up but it plays not so perfect films without getting stuck and slicing into the film!

[Steve Klare]

I want to guess that since it keeps tearing at the perfs, the claw is up to no good, but then again the perfs are the weak point and if a tear starts anywhere it will probably be there.

Do you have a nicely formed loop above and below the gate?

Any problems that I've ever had with my Pageant started out from a lifetime auto-threading Super-8!
It's a little like driving automatics for a couple of cars and suddenly finding yourself with three pedals and a stick-shift!

[Andrew Bauer]

I want to guess that since it keeps tearing at the perfs, the claw is up to no good, but then again the perfs are the weak point and if a tear starts anywhere it will probably be there.

Do you have a nicely formed loop above and below the gate?

Any problems that I've ever had with my Pageant started out from a lifetime auto-threading Super-8!
It's a little like driving automatics for a couple of cars and suddenly finding yourself with three pedals and a stick-shift!

Worst thing my Pageant(s) ever done (I actually have 2 but my other one is missing a speed knob so it’s modes is either too fast or too slow maybe I can get a speed control here) is lose a bottom loop and get jittery which I stop the projector, make the bottom loop, problem solved! No tears no splicing. Can’t say the same for this Elmo unfortunately because it’s more convenient, less bulky, and has the speaker built in but it feels like I’m playing Russian roulette with films on it. I need to send it out anyway for the audio portion to be repaired so maybe they can fix this issue too?

[Andrew Bauer]

By the way, does anyone also know where I can find where I can get a knob for the Sound/Silent speed that is missing where I circled for this Kodak?

[Steve Klare]

Hi Andrew,

Which Pageant is this one? Maybe if we could find a picture of the knob on the 'net, we could find a replacement.

[Charlie Peich]

Hello Andrew and Steve.....

Looking at the Pageant pic Andrew posted, it looks like the missing part is a lever as in this pic of a Pageant 8K5.



However, earlier models may have had a round knob as shown in this Pageant model 7K2



Hope this helps.....

Charlie

Pageant 250E owner

[Steve Klare]

Hi Charlie,

It does help! That's a funky looking knob! I don't think an exact replacement is in the cards, but what's the shaft diameter?

You know, Charlie: we have heat at CineSea, now! (-just saying!)

[Andrew Bauer]

Hello Andrew and Steve.....

Looking at the Pageant pic Andrew posted, it looks like the missing part is a lever as in this pic of a Pageant 8K5.



However, earlier models may have had a round knob as shown in this Pageant model 7K2



Hope this helps.....

Charlie

Pageant 250E owner

I’m not 100% sure what model I have I’ll have to go dig it out of my storage room and see… I remember it was a 1958 model.

[Andrew Bauer]

Ok I got some photos of it it’s a model AV-154s