Projector Issues

[Will2]

I picked up a 16mm Bell & Howell (2580 A) projector. A real workhorse of a projector. Bulb is great, seems to load properly. Sound is there. Everything is fine except for speed.

Now I am trying it with a large reel (16mm print of the Lorax) but it seems to be going at about 3 fps. It acts like it's struggling with the size of the reel. My take up reel is about as big as can fit (2300 ft) on this projector.

I'm digging up some short Ektachrome reels I've shot in the past to test tonight but I was wondering if anyone had experience with this late model B&H projector. I believe it has a fixed speed so it may be just old and weak like so many of us.

I'm looking for companies to give it a checkup in the U.S.

[Will2]

For anyone with a similar unit, here's a response from a tech at KMR in California...

Hi
sounds like the motor belt need to be replace. The problum is the worm
gear and the lower sprocket idler gear. The worm gear is on the same
shaft that the meck pulley, shutter is on. If there is crack or cracks
on the worm gear it will need to be replace. the other gear sits behind
the lower gear that is drive off the worm gear then the idler gear is
driven off the lower gear and it drives the sprockt gear that moves the
film. this idler gear breaks, the idler gear is no longer available.

by taking off the back you can see the worm gear but the idler gear you
will need a dental mirror and a flash light.

if the idler gear is ok and the worm gear is bad you are looking at
$375.00 for repair.

Check your machine.

-
Have a good day
John
KMR Electronics

[8mm]

Hello!
You can adjust the speed by removing the back on the projector. On the backside of the cower where the speed change dial is from 18 to 24 fps, next to the on/off button, there are two little metal knobs that you can adjust with a screwdriver. Adjust either the one for 18 if you want it to project at slower speed or the 24 if you want that speed.

[walter]

Here is a link how to renew the driving belt on your B&H projector:
http://www.paulivester.com/films/projec ... h_belt.htm
Unfortunately the belt is not a simply round type, so you have to buy the original spare part.
Good luck,
Walter

[Will2]

Here is a link how to renew the driving belt on your B&H projector:

Awesome resource for this problem! Thank you very much. Ordering a belt now.

[Will2]

To Roger or anyone with experience with 16mm projectors:

Assuming it is well maintained, are these B&W 2580 projectors bad news for films or are they ok?

[Will2]

I was able to replace the belt without too much trouble once I realized you can access part of the mechanism from the other side by just opening the front panel.

Old belt had a nice slick, shinny flat area in the center of the belt that should have had some grip.

Now it drives just fine but the loop seems to get lost and starts to pile up around the loop area after about 45 seconds... right after the sound starts to work; like it gets to the right speed and place then goes too far and starts to buckle the film up.

Feel like I bought an old car and I'm going to spend the next few years working on it.

[ekoe]

Sounds like a flywheel weighting issue.

There should be some capstan rollers near the sound head, to even the speed of the film over the playhead. That capstan would be mounted on a shaft. At the other end of the shaft should be the flywheel. Sometimes the capstan shaft gets slightly bent due to shock during transport.

With the projector off, try spinning the flywheel. It should spin smoothly for a good while. If it wobbles or does not spin for very long, you need to adjust the position of the flywheel relative to the shaft, by rotating it on the shaft. Mark the original position, and by trial and error you should be able to get the flywheel, and thus the capstan, to spin smoothly and freely.

If the shaft is badly bent, you'll have to carefully attempt to striaghten it or replace it.