Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Motors -- Bodine vs. Ballentine

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Topic: Motors -- Bodine vs. Ballentine

Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-22-1999 02:17 PM

We just had yet another motor blow up in one of our projectors. (Third one in 1-1/2 years) This last one is one that was replaced just a year ago! I've checked the whole machine. It runs easily w/ no binding, etc. I don't have a clue as to what's causing them to go so often.
(Century MSC-TA proj.)

So when the replacement motor came in, it was a Ballentine (Leeson) motor instead of the usual Bodine motor. I didn't know how to hook it up because it's a 110/220 volt, reversible and you have 7 wires instead of the usual 3. We called NCS to come out to replace it. Everything's running fine, now. As a matter of fact, I think the Ballentine motor is a lot smoother and quiter.

After all was said and done, I was outside smoking the traditional post-repair cigarette and our NCS guy told me that the Bodine motors have been going bad a lot lately. If that's true then I wonder if it would be better to order the Ballentine next time. (Now that I know how to hook it up )

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Ken Layton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1452
From: Olympia, Wash. USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 12-22-1999 06:39 PM

Bodine motors are all crap! You're lucky it didn't catch fire. I call them Jethro Bodine motors. GE and Dayton (Grainger) motors are better although I haven't seen a real Ballantyne made motor.

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Trevor Bailey
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 113
From: Woonsocket, RI
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-22-1999 09:43 PM

You're not alone.

The Bodines have been very troublesome. Our tech in central MA has two locations that have had several motors going into "thermal protect". He put in his first Ballantyne replacement this week, so we're hoping this will put the problem to bed.

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 12-23-1999 12:01 AM

The Leeson motors (aka Ballantyne) seem to be ok though I have found them to be a bit noisier, actually.

As to the wiring, they now have the termination schedule on a sticker on the junction box cover plate.

We have used both the single phase and three phase versions (they look almost identical).

Bodine is just one of those wierd motor companies that seems to play by it's own rules.

Steve

------------------
"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

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Bruce McGee
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1776
From: Asheville, NC USA... Nowhere in Particular.
Registered: Aug 1999

posted 12-23-1999 12:01 AM

This is intresting. I have seen old medical equipment (My dad was in the business) that used Bodine motors that is over 40 years old that saw daily service. Those motors did not fail. One of my carcass Holmes machines has a Bodine motor on it, too, and all I did to make it work was clean it.

Dayton motors used to be identical to Emerson Electric motors, except for the color.

I've replaced hundreds of furnace blower, and burner motors, mostly 1725 RPM, and as big as 1 1/4 horsepower. The Dayton/Emersons were the least trouble. Sometimes, a new GE out of the box would just hum.

The newer GE motors are made in Mexico and are not as reliable as they once were.

Does Leece-Neville still build motors?

How large are the ones on your machines?

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Erich Loepke
Film Handler

Posts: 43
From: Ft. Worth, TX, USA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 12-23-1999 01:17 AM

The Motiograph AAA I have uses a GE 1/4 HP 1725 RPM motor. It runs smooth and looks like it'll last quite a long time. It appears to be the original motor, or if it was replaced, it was a long time ago.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-27-1999 09:20 AM

Yes, The Bodines are as of lately(the last year and a half or so) very prone to fail. The Leeson motor seems to be very reliable and as such Strong changed over to them about a year ago. We've sold quite a number of machines with Leeson's since then and have yet to have a failure. They seem to run cooler too.

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-27-1999 01:13 PM

Well, I guess that's good enough for me! Ballantine motors it is! Now that I know how to wire them up.

Yes, all the ones we had went into thermal protect. The Ballentine seems like a good motor. It's roughly the same size as the old one. It's maybe 20% longer. Direct fit replacement. (Maybe different bolt holes, but the adaptor plate comes with it.)

Only (minor) concern is that it's got a centrifugal 'governor'.

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Greg Mueller
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1687
From: Port Gamble, WA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-27-1999 01:27 PM

Sure it's a governor and not a starting relay? On my Norelco (2 motor model) there is a little disk with weights on it. The disk is flexable. At rest, the weights are in the "first position" and the disk is "unflexed" this allows the starting contacts/windings to be engaged. When the motor starts up and gets to a certain speed the disk flexes which breaks the contact to the starting windings and the motor runs on it running(?) windings. The only problem is that after a zillion or so flexes the little disk fatigues and breaks. This happened to one of my motors and I just switched the two motors. I don't know what I'll do when the other one breaks as I don't believe they make the little disks for these particular motors anymore

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

posted 01-05-2000 03:47 PM

You're right, it's not a 'governor' but more of a 'startup switch/relay'. I just couldn't think of a better name for it than 'governor'. What I was worried about is just what you mentioned. That after 9,000,000 cycles it would wear out or get stuck. For now, I'm pretty happy with it and I plan to make sure mgt. orders the Ballantyne motors from now on. I'll just keep the 'governor / starter' thing in the back of my mind for future reference. (Job security!

)

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