Suggestions for fixing an old projector

[cdg]

Here's the deal. I'm pretty new to the hobby of shooting my own films, but I've been projecting old family movies for a long time. Since I found an 8mm movie projector in my grandmother's attic in fact. The first projector I used was a Bell and Howell model 256 self-threading projector. It's really easy to use and never looses its loop if a splice is done badly at the lab.

Anyway, recently the old 256 died on me. The lower sprocket does not turn properly. There is a clicking sound, and the film just packs up in the film gate. I took the projector part of the way apart, and I can see that there is some kind of little clutch that is slipping on the bottom sprocket - it looks like a little piece of spring steel that is held against the gear that drives the lower sprocket.

I can't see any film packed in the sprocket, and the auto-threader mechanism isn't touching the sprocket either.

I know this is tough to just describe in a forum, but maybe somebody here knows a little about this specific model and might be able to lend some experience. I'm back in college now, so I don't actually have the projector with me. Suggestions or tips are always appreciated though!

I know this projector probably isn't worth the time to fix it, but I've had this projector since I was like 12, and it has become quite sentimental to me.

[threeinv]

I haven't seen him check in for awhile, but Clive Tobin (clivetobin) will know something about your projector. His website is in his profile. Earlier this year his company came out with a spindle repair kit for the B&H projectors (do a forum search here); I don't know if that would fix your problem or not.

--Derrick

[clivetobin]

I haven't seen him check in for awhile, but Clive Tobin (clivetobin) will know something about your projector...

Yes, we buy these by the dozen to rob parts for making our TVT telecine machines and run into this problem a lot.

The sprockets have a ratcheting action, to permit the operator to turn the sprockets against the gears and restore lost loops.

The shaft of the lower sprocket is probably gummed up with old oil, dirt and emulsion dust and is jammed. Consequently the force required to turn the sprocket exceeds the ratchet slipping force and it doesn't turn, and stalls and merely makes that rat-tat-tat noise.

You need to take it completely apart to get all of this stuff out and re-oil the bearing. Stick a Q-tip in the bearing to clean out the inside, and use a cloth to clean the shaft, then re-oil lightly with pretty much any sort of oil.

After that you re-assemble the parts in the original order and it should be fine. The tension on the flat (phosphor bronze or beryllium copper) ratcheting sprocket spring is adjusted if need be, by bending, for the desired slipping or ratcheting force. It should be difficult to make it slip on the ratchet teeth, but not stiff enough to cause bruises or break your fingernails. We use a new 7/32" E-clip on the shaft end instead of the rinky-dink spiral spring clip that was originally installed.