HELP autoload lever not locking into place on Bell&Howell 16mm projector

[Mathieu Perras]

Recently acquired a Bell & Howell 16mm film projector, everything is fine, the bulbs work however the autoload lever won’t click/lock into place when I push it down (and every single YouTube videos I’ve seen the guy just pushes it down and it stay down). I have a video I could send to show exactly what is happening.
Any ideas as to why that might ?
I’m afraid something inside like a spring is probably broken..
I’m also wondering if it could perhaps still be used as is by pressing and holding down the lever while I load the film and then releasing it since the lever opens all the pathways and when released all the gates close… as far as I know the gates need to be closed when the film is playing right ?

Anyways any help or tips would be greatly appreciated thank you!

[Douglas Meltzer]

Mathieu,

What model B&H projector do you have?

[Mathieu Perras]

Its a 1592 model

[Chip Gelmini]

If it is unlocked to the point where the projector can run film with no issues then bypass all the autoload parts and do the threading manually. I've tried it on my 2592. It takes a little practice but once you do that you're golden

my 2592 does not have this problem, but I wanted to know if I could manually thread it just by working around the parts that run auto load


So what you need to do is just pretend that autoload not there, but do not attempt to disassemble those parts

try auto loading a test film while holding the button down and then shut the projector off and release the button

Next study the top loop the bottom loop and the two rollers before, and after the sound drum make note of how everything looks

When you are ready, reverse the auto thread let the film come all the way out and then try putting it in manually making sure that all the important places where there are loops and tension is correct

Use a test reel so that if it skips out When you turn it on any damage is not a problem to the film print

Take a while to learn how to do it once you get the hang of it you will find it's very possible and very easy

this assumes that your projector is good otherwise for standard projection and you are only having a problem with Auto load

[Douglas Meltzer]

Mathieu,

We have the service manual available for download if you think it might help. Follow this link to a list of 16mm projectors and you'll see the 1592 listed.

[Nantawat Kittiwarakul]

I think I saw your post on Reddit before (if that's you), so I would repeat my reply there in case you've missed it.

If you're lucky it might be just a latch mechanism that got stuck from the dried grease inside. A squirt of lubricant spray at the right spot might be all you ever need. Yeah it's not the proper / permanent solution. But for light/casual use this should be suffice.