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During the weekend I decide to service one of my Elmo 1200's, a job which worried me but I felt it needed to be done. This was one (HD) that was purchased in 1994, in a filthy condition where it apparently been used in a porn cinema/ club. The whole of the insides was caked in a brown dust, and at the time I cleaned up the film transport areas, which have always remained spotless since then. However most of it was difficult to clean without proper access. During 1997/8 it was sent off for a professional service for some problem to be rectified but mainly for access to the mechanical side of the machine as one of the screws holding the case on had been deformed, so I could not open it. When the machine came back I was finally able to get assess around the back but still the machine's innards was largely covered in this brown dust and I was not going to start to take anything apart. Moving on to a different era (2015) the motor pulley had cracked and through this forum I was able to see who to contact and order a new part from Van Eck. While replacing this part (and referring to the YouTube tutorial) which meant moving the motor and other components out, I was presented with the opportunity to clean up around that now vacant area. The shutter/ cam area still remained untouched (by me) and after looking at Tom Photiou's post on the shutter in the sticky section recently and obtaining the service manual I decided to go ahead and clean up the machine frame. I dissembled and moved the frame, but I did not want to de-solder the wires on the solenoid. There was enough wire to move the frame out slightly and I was able to clean up and degrease/ relube the cam. I also cleaned/ lubricated the teeth of many cogs and their hubs (inc the ones in the arms), the top/ bottom sprockets and all plastic rollers, removing all traces of old lubricants. Now inside it looks totally different and hand tuning the motion seems to be smoother. I only was able to remove some E- clips by hand but I have ordered a tool to help me complete that job. Eventually I may take the frame totally out but spice extra wire to the solenoid meaning that there is more room to manoeuvrer in future, avoiding the need to de-solder. Originally I was to have practised all of this on a 1200 I own which has a faulty motor but I found that an unexpected yellow wire had been soldered to the bottom of the frame. I presume is is a modification by a previous owner as I have not seen it mentioned on the forum or in the manual.
Next up is the Elf...
Next up is the Elf...