Sankyo Stereo 800 Projector users ... I have a question for you .

[David Hardy]

My son recently purchased a good condition and serviced Sankyo 800 super 8mm sound projector .
However is it normal for it to produce a mains transformer type hum buzz when sitting idle with the volume turned fully down ?
It makes this sound from the built in monitor speakers and when using extension speakers .
Also is that white roller on the auto thread feed supposed to turn or is it just a guide ?
Please let me know .
Thanks !

[Janice Glesser]

Hi David.... Sorry for the late response. I have the same hum losing issue with my 800. The sound is good when it comes on and is usually louder than the hum, but it is annoying. Also the white auto thread roller should turn when put in forward mode.

[Dave Bickford]

I have a Sankyo sound 720. The amplifier is very noisy. Humm, buzz, scratching sound. After ~45 years, I'm guessing the capacitors have dried out.

[David Hardy]

Janice and Dave thank you very much for your responses . Cheers !

[Robin Moss]

Hi David. I've had the same Sankyo 800 for the last quarter of a century! Luckily when I purchased the machine secondhand it had had little use and came fitted with the excellent F1.0 lens. Yes, when standing the projector has always emitted a hum, but it's not something that to me is audible when projecting sound films. Also, as Janice states the white roller at the front of the machine should turn.

Because I was impressed with my purchase, several more Sankyo 800's have passed through my hands and in my opinion they can be quite variable in terms of projector running noise. Mine is smooth running and performs well, but other Sankyo 800's have been much noisier, so have not been kept.

One annoying thing I notice with mine is focus drift, with the need to refocus the picture every few minutes. The lens mechanism seems quite crude in my opinion, but this aspect may be less critical with the F1.3 lens.

Would say though in all the time I've had it, it has never scratched a print, unlike other machines I've had in the past.

[Janice Glesser]

Robin Moss The focus of my Sankyo 800 drifts also with the 1.0 lens. I found it too frustrating. I used to have the Sankyo 800 in my permanent setup, however I replaced it with my Elmo ST800 and have been a been much happier. The Elmo is much lighter for me to carry too.

[David Hardy]

Robin Moss thank you too for your response to my question . I will let my son know all your responses . The reason i asked is because i have never owned or used any Sankyo projector in the past so therefore could not advise or give any practical information to my son . Although i was tempted in the past to purchase a Sankyo 800 when they were first released . I purchased an Elmo ST 1200 HD instead .

[Brian Harrington]

Have you tried contact cleaner? I posted fairly recently about that in another thread.