Sticky belt on Elmo ST1200hd

[Phillip Campey]

I thought I would buy an Elmo ST1200 Hd off Ebay, the seller stated that the belts had been replaced and the residue removed but when I received the machine the drive belt was sticky and black stuff ended up on my fingers which took a while to clean off. Not having one of theses machine before is this normal or is the belt defective? also the film does not run at a constant speed causing the sound to waver. One day I may get a machine that actually works correctly.

[Maurice Leakey]

Phillip
There may be a problem with the rubber on the shutter wheel. This was covered in the earlier version of this Forum. Click below to read it.
8mm Forum: Restoring the Rubber Shutter Wheel Surface on Elmo ST-1200 (and other tales!) (film-tech.com)
Also, the following Video may be of interest.
Elmo ST 1200 HD Super 8mm Projector Shutter Wheel Repair - YouTube

[Philip Hamilton]

I purchased an ST1200 and it arrived with the belt "in pieces". At first I didn't know it was the remains of the belt but as I looked closer I realized that it was the disintegrated belt which turned to GOO. A greasy mess.

Replacing the belts and cleaning off the wheels and removing all excess stickiness from the innards is what needs to be done. Regarding the shutter belt - I have seen some who say that the shutter belt is really not necessary as long as everything else is working. I don't know this to be true and have no first hand experience on this. Replacing that looks to be a real job - not so much though on the other belts.

I just don't understand why sellers LIE about the condition of these projectors. We are not stupid and it will be apparent the moment it arrives !! And, in many cases, they (the sellers) have to pay RETURN shipping to get the unit back. Some though will just refund your money and tell you to keep it. Probably not though on an ST1200.

[Michael Beyer]

Could it be, that the projector wasn't used for a long time from the seller?
Did you checked the whole way, that everything is clean? The Capstan, too?

The HD sometimes has some problems with Acetat.

[Phillip Campey]

Thanks for all responses, I’m just going to return it, my search for a decent projector continues.

[Michael Beyer]

Well, all of my Projectors, I got from Ebay, were in a relatively good condition, but on all, I changed the belts, cleaned them and put some Grease and oil to the different parts.

[Graham Sinden]

I have avoided the ST1200 for same reasons Phillip had after cleaning a friends machine after it stopped mid show .

When in like new condition they are the the nicest looking projector with its silver body but are beset with problems inside if its the many versions with the rubber round the shutter wheel.

I much prefer the Elmo range with DC motors.

Graham S

[Antoine Orsero]

Hello, I would like to know why the ELMO ST 1200 HD projector have two motor belts while the ST1200 has only one? Thank you very much