my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Strong Oil Leaks

Author Topic: Strong Oil Leaks Michael Elam Film Handler Posts: 84 From: Clarksville, IN, USA Registered: Mar 2001 posted 07-08-2003 03:26 PM                     Has anyone came up with a way to stop the oil leaks from the Strong/Simplex PR 1050/1060 and 2000 projectors? Thanks  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 07-08-2003 04:37 PM                     The only time the older machines don't leak oil is when they are sitting on the shelf. That's because there is nothing in them. Supposedly, the new machines don't leak.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 07-08-2003 04:58 PM                  If it's from the gaskets or "O" rings and/or seals, replace them. If from the gaskets, there are improved "red" ones available. My 1986 Simplex 35's DO NOT leak a drop... and YES Paul, they have oil in them. If it's from the casting: That's a real problem for the Simplex and Ballantyne (or any oil-bath/oil-filled projector/mechanism that has a porous casting. I have junked or sent back to the factory more Ballantyne Pro 35's and 870's than I care to mention for lousy castings that seep oil. I wish I could give you some pointers short of having it all re-painted with powder paint and baked to seal the casting. >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 07-09-2003 02:40 AM                        ... off topic, I know... sorry, but... speaking of Strong... has anyone heard from Pat lately?  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 07-09-2003 08:12 AM                        When I talked to Pat Moore at ShoWest, he said he has been "on the road" a tremendous amount of time, often overseas. Does anyone know if he was at Show Canada or Cine-Expo?  |  IP: Logged Darryl Spicer Film God Posts: 3250 From: Lexington, KY, USA Registered: Dec 2000 posted 07-09-2003 08:31 AM                    I have noticed oil leaks on these machines around the intermittents. Are the o-rings inside those intermittents going bad?  |  IP: Logged Scott Manley Film Handler Posts: 59 From: Austin, TX USA Registered: May 2001 posted 07-09-2003 10:09 AM                     I agree with Phil....i've installed some of the new red ones.........and I havn't had a problem with them  |  IP: Logged Tom Kroening Expert Film Handler Posts: 214 From: Janesville, WI USA Registered: Oct 1999 posted 08-03-2003 11:19 PM                     Hey, whats the best way to install these new gaskets? I have one in that doesnt leak (except the O-ring on the framing knob seems to leak). The other one is leaking pretty bad... The old gasket was put on with some sort of RTV sealant... should i put the new gasket on with this stuff? It was nearly impossible to get the gasket to sit right while putting it in without anything to hold it. Also which way should i put the lip? On the first one I put the lip facing in, but the second one the lip wouldn't fit that way so i put it out and it leaks. Any help would be great! Thanks.  |  IP: Logged Andrew Duggan Expert Film Handler Posts: 127 From: Albany, NY, USA Registered: Jun 2002 posted 08-04-2003 01:04 PM                        Take some paper towels (good ones, not cheapo dollar store brands) and fold them to size and place them on any horizontal surfaces where oil pools up. Below the intermittent, and at the bottom of the sound heads is usually where I put them. Keep them in place with a little masking tape if this is an issue. Then once a week, change them out with fresh ones. And when you wipe out the gate & sprockets in between shows, have a seperate rag on hand to give the rest of the oil "trouble spots" a quick wipedown. At the end of the night, use the same rag to give the whole projector a good once over while you're doing your cleaning. I usually pay special attention to the failsafes, lower guide roller and underside of the whole projector, since thats where I see most of the buildup. It's not a solution exactly, but doing this daily will keep things decently oil-free. Just be sure to clearly mark the different rags for everyone who works in your booth, so you don't get someone who isn't paying attention wiping out your gate with a cruddy oily rag! (Thankfully, most people who would be careless enough to make such a mistake usually are too lazy to clean out the gate in the first place...hmmmm....maybe "thankfully" isn't the word I was looking for...)  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 08-04-2003 01:58 PM                        I've also heard of some people using feminine sanitary "mini-pads" to soak up seeping oil. Most even have an adhesive strip to hold them in place. Under the projector, give consideration to the small absorbent bedpads or even an opened disposable baby diaper. http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/shelf?deptid=2227&catid=2303&subcatid=2327  |  IP: Logged Tom Kroening Expert Film Handler Posts: 214 From: Janesville, WI USA Registered: Oct 1999 posted 08-04-2003 04:18 PM                     Well we use the old oil dry pan trick around here. Unfortunately each projector needs 2 pans to catch all of the oil. I think I got that new gasket in there correctly this time. I have the ridge of the red gasket facing in so it gets squeezed when you put the cover in. I also had to use some RTV to hold the gasket in place while installing it. It hasn't leaked all day so I'll just keep an eye on it for a week to be sure. Its probably damn near impossible to fix every leak without tearing the machine apart and rebuilding it with new gaskets and o-rings. Next up is that pesky roof leak... it never ends!  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.