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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: Looking for tips on keeping a clean Simplex XL
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Dan Chilton
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 191
From: Springfield, MO
Registered: Mar 2004
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posted 10-05-2005 08:39 PM
When I used to work at a theater, in my teens, I wasn't concerned with learning the ins and outs of being a projectionist. I worked at a multiplex, for minimum wage, and they taught me just enough to thread the platter and projector in less than a minute... other than that, they didn't bother teaching us much. Now that I run my own theater, I'm maniacal about keeping everything clean - popper, projector, booth, etc.. I lurk around Film-Tech and glean what I can from all the experts.
What I can't seem to find, however, is a good thorough guide for cleaning a projector and soundhead. I have a Simplex XL and a Simplex soundhead. The tips section has a few pointers, but nothing for my specific projector (as common as it is). I glanced through the 1960 printing of the XL manual, but it doesn't say much about cleaning the machine. Is there any good reference that you guys would recommend? Beyond vacuuming all the film dust and keeping the intermittents clean, I'm not really sure how to clean things like the film gate, optical pick-up, etc..
I definitely don't want to screw things up. So if you don't mind suffering a newbie, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Monte L Fullmer
Film God
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Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted 10-06-2005 01:16 AM
First question is: do you know how to disassemble some of the areas of the XL. Since you have a 1960 manual there, study that thing carefully on how to take things apart and put them back together by looking at the parts section of the manual. This is actually how I learned to work on an XL by studying the parts manual on how things come apart and go back together.
Toothbrush and a can of "air-off", or better yet a regular air compressor with an air nozzle does, wonders on blowing out the crud from within the deep bowels of that machine.
But, actually, simple common sense is to wipe up any oil that is visible, keep the sprockets clean with that toothbrush (with motor off - turn the machine over by hand to scrub teeth..), clean the lenses with lens cleaner and lens tissue, if you know how to take the gate off to clean the rails and know how to remove the trap to clean the runners (if a flat trap assembly), or the bands (being the curved trap assembly), the areas around the lateral guide rollers - just all sorts of cleaning can be done on an XL.
Soundhead -cue tip and lens cleaner to clean the lens of the camera if have reverse scan LED devices. Otherwise, the same for the slit lens-back and front after removing the exciter lamp. (you should have reverse scan by now being all of these cyan prints out there..)
Big thing - keep that oil level where it's supposed to be at -either on the glass tube out in front, or the round glass inside. You run that thing dry, goodbye intermittent assembly since it needs that spray to lubricate that assembly. Intermitent units are not a sealed unit, they crave the outside oil to operate.
If the oil is dark yellowish, change that oil with the proper oil (and not automotive motor oil...). Is the spray in the back really spraying good out of the tube, or it is just dripping. If dripping, the filter screen needs to come off and cleaned for the pump to work good.
..just some starters to go for. - Monte
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Randy Stankey
Film God
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Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 10-06-2005 10:23 PM
90% of the time, all I do is clean out the projector with a shop towel. But then, again, I use FilmGuard and I clean my projector every time it's threaded.
Simply remove the two fasteners that hold the film shoe in place and slide it out of the machine. Then take a shop towel and wipe down every surface that you can reach with your hands.
If you need to get into the nooks and crannies, a 1" paint brush does the trick. If you need to get into the really tight spots, a Q-Tip will work nicely.
Rarely, if ever, will I use a liquid cleaner inside the projector. Most of the time, when I do use liquid, it is to get some baked on crud off the film bands that won't come off with other means. That happens, MAYBE, once or twice per year.
When I worked at the megaplexes I told people to carry a shop towel around in their back pocket. Sometimes they would have a shelf next to each projector where a clean rag was kept. No matter what method you use, it takes a TRIVIAL amount of time to clean a projector before you thread... TRIVIAL!!
If you keep your projector clean in the first place you will hardly ever need to use anything more than a rag and a brush.
If you want to be totally anal retentive you can do what I call a "Take-Apart Cleaning". Take the trap, shoe and shutter covers off. Go at it with a vacuum cleaner hose, a brush, a rag, a Q-Tip or whatever you deem necessary.
I do a "Take-Apart Cleaning" twice per year. Once at around Christmas break and again before summer break. (College theater.)
So, the short answer is, "Common sense and elbow grease." That's probably why the old, 1960's vintage manuals don't have much in the way of cleaning instructions. They assumed the user had common sense and wasn't afraid to use a little elbow grease. After all, back then, 90% of all projectionists were tradesmen.
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Monte L Fullmer
Film God
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Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted 10-12-2005 02:29 PM
...XL sprocket shaft bearings are sleeve bearings..nutting can get through those. Only one that is roller bearing is the 5-star lower constant speed sprocket shaft, and that bearing is of the sealed variety
Shoot, I use a brass bristle welder's brush to clean my sprockets.
True, all the years (36 of them) that I've ran projectors, never once have I ever had bristles come out of the head of the brush.
Also, if one IS careful with a compressor, you CAN direct the airstream (and NOT use 100lbs coming out of the nozzle as I've seen some booth clowns do..) with small bursts, instead of one continual blast of air, and still do a cleaning and not make such a mess. (Of course, you can cover your prints before the compressor usage... )
Practically all of the booths in large and small circuits that I've seen is the mandantory air compressor to blow out the machines nightly on a daily basis
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