Problems with my projector

[Tiffany Rokeby]

A few months ago, I bought a 8mm/Super 8 projector (Keystone K-539) it worked for a while, but now the focus knob doesn’t do anything. The lens doesn’t move. Can this be fixed? Included is a picture of a film being projected.

[Janice Glesser]

Hi Tiffany... I used to have one of those projectors. It belonged to my stepdad. They are constructed with very cheap plastic parts. Most likely the focus knob is either broken or not making contact with the lens to adjust the focus. Usually those knobs can just be pulled off if they are attached to a metal rod. Try doing that and seeing if you can adjust the lens by turning the rod with your fingers or pliers. You can also try to reach in and adjust the lens manually by turning it or pulling it forward and back.

[Tiffany Rokeby]

It appears that the focus knob will not come out

[Janice Glesser]

Check to see if there's a set screw holding it in. Sometimes they can be difficult to pull off.

[Tiffany Rokeby]

After a few days, we couldn’t get the focus knob off, and we don’t know what to do after opening it. Thanks for the help.

[Jim Schrader]

Can it be moved manually?

[Tiffany Rokeby]

Unfortunately not.

[Nantawat Kittiwarakul]

I bet that there's a radial groove on the lens barrel and an eccentric drive pin on the inner part of the focusing shaft, which should sit right into that slot to move the lens back & forth when focusing. This shaft is spring-loaded so that it could be retracted hence the lens could be pulled out (for cleaning).

But it is also possible that the lens is accidently pushed in, so that the drive pin no longer mates with the groove and unable to rack the lens back & forth anymore.

If that's really the case you just simply pull the lens barrel out / push it in slightly until it "clicks", then the focus knob will work again.

[Tiffany Rokeby]

I will try that. Thanks.

[Tiffany Rokeby]

I finally got time to mess with the projector, and now I have a new problem. The focus knob is moving the lens again, but now light isn’t hitting the lens correctly, so it doesn’t project anything now.

[Tiffany Rokeby]

Strangely I get some light in Super 8 mode but not Standard 8.

[Brian Fretwell]

My initial thought is that the lens is no longer straight on to the film, but the larger gate of Super 8 is big enough for some light to get to the back element and through the lens. If you can, try taking the lens out completely and putting it back trying to keep it straight. Checking that there is nothing in the way at the side that would put the lens at an angle when the lens is out.

[Tiffany Rokeby]

I got in but it didn’t give me access to the lens. I couldn’t adjust it from outside.

[Janice Glesser]

You can only access it through the front. The front housing should come off look around to see if there are any screws holding it in if you can't pull it off by hand.

[Tiffany Rokeby]

Sorry! Still new to projectors