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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: I need help with my RCA 400
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Jose Cuadra
Film Handler
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Posts: 6
From: Caracas, Miranda, Venezuela
Registered: Apr 2006
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posted 04-28-2006 11:45 PM
Hi, I'm new to the forums as well as to 16mm films. Last sunday I found my grandfather's RCA 400 projector along with some home movies,I decided to watch them and I already knew how to use it (my grandpa taught me before he passed away). So I watched a few short family films and it worked perfectly, I stopped for like 2 hours and then went back to using it and started up fine. The sound isn't working because the exciter bulb is missing, I'm hoping that's the only reason.
Now on to the real problem, at the end of the evening I left the projector loaded with a film I wanted to show my mother the next day. On monday I started it up but it wasn't working at the right speed and it's not the silent/sound switch, it goes at like half the normal speed on the regular setting(and VERY slow on the other setting) and when you first turn it on it seems like it has a hard time starting to roll the film, the same problem happens when you try to rewind it, it goes very slow compared to how it worked on sunday.
This thing has been sitting in the attic for at least 6 years since it was used the last time and I'm sure that my grandpa never did any maintenance work to it before that, at least not for the last 20 or so years(he got it back in the 50s). I tried adding some oil on the holes that say "place two drops of oil into each hole after showing" but that didn't do anything.
I also don't have the manual, if anyone has it in .pdf format or knows where to find it, I would really appreciate it.
Another part of the problem is that I live in Venezuela and there is no one to my knowledge that knows how to fix this thing and I'm 100% sure you can't find parts, so basically I'm on my own.
I'm willing to open it up, take pictures, anything that will help you guys diagnose the problem, I'm a DIY kind of person so I actually enjoy this type of things.
Well, sorry about the long post, but I'm really desperate for help.
Thanks.
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Jose Cuadra
Film Handler
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/3762.jpg)
Posts: 6
From: Caracas, Miranda, Venezuela
Registered: Apr 2006
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posted 04-29-2006 12:08 AM
Thanks for the quick reply Alan Ill go check the belt right now.
*nevermind, I hadn't noticed the links on top of the default list .
UPDATE: I took off the cover, I think I found the belt Alan mentioned and I think it was working properly, although it looked a bit worn out. However, there was this big "wheel" thingie that caught my eye because it didn't spin when I turned on the projector, but it did when I turned it by hand and it looks as if it should spin, it also has a mark that makes me think it had some sort of belt attached to it, I didn't find one near it though (or pieces of one). I took some pics so you can get a better idea of what I'm talking about:
![-](http://www.film-tech.com/uploads/uploads0503/belt.JPG)
![-](http://www.film-tech.com/uploads/uploads0503/problem-.JPG)
![-](http://www.film-tech.com/uploads/uploads0503/missing1.JPG)
One more thing, is there anything in there that I should be careful with in there? like something that could electrocute me, I know monitors and TVs are very dangerous to open up and I don't know if this bad boy has anything like that, I don't want to end up fried by my RCA 400 .
Oh, and if you need larger pictures or different angles/shots just let me know.
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Bruce Hansen
Jedi Master Film Handler
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Posts: 847
From: Stone Mountain, GA, USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 04-30-2006 06:12 PM
It could be that the old oil and grease was OK at first, but after it was disturbed, then set over night, it turned to goo, and is slowing down the projector. See if the projector turns over easily by hand, if not, you may have to do a lot of disassembly, cleaning, and re-lubing.
Something strange I just noticed: we are talking about an RCA 400, and this is my 400th post. This calls for a beer! But than again, everything calls for a beer.
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