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Author Topic: Changeover douser "drifting" David E. Nedrow Master Film Handler Posts: 368 From: Columbus, OH, USA Registered: Oct 2008 posted 03-23-2011 06:40 PM                        (Had been firewall shutter post, but figured out my mis-observation) I just swapped XL heads and I'm having a problem where, after a relatively short period of time, say 1-2 minutes, the changeover douser starts to drift closed on what had been #2 (but is now #1). This projector had run without problem as recently as October. What needs tightened? -David  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 03-23-2011 07:24 PM                        I'm not overly familiar with fire shutters, but can you remove it? Chances are pretty slim that you'll be running any nitrate any time soon, so it's not needed. Are you, by chance, talking about the electric douser/changeover?  |  IP: Logged David E. Nedrow Master Film Handler Posts: 368 From: Columbus, OH, USA Registered: Oct 2008 posted 03-23-2011 07:38 PM                        Joe, You're right. I didn't take the time to actually observe what was happening, beyond seeing what was happening on the screen. /me must be beaten. It is the Simplex changeover that is drifting closed, which also explains why the fire shutter re-set button didn't work, which should have been my first clue it wasn't the fire shutter. D'oh! -David  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-23-2011 07:47 PM                        Are these Zipper changeovers, Kelmar changeovers, or something else? On the Zipper, you may need to tighten the screw on the top (there should be a little ball in there, too; perhaps it slipped out when you moved the machine).  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-23-2011 08:15 PM                     There's a little leaf spring in the Kelmar changeovers that often breaks or gets lose. If it does, the solenoid rod will gradually slip closed during the presentation. Happens a lot.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 03-23-2011 09:23 PM                        This has to be a Simplex/Zipper changeover. Just buy a Kelmar. Not worth fixing. No comparison. Louis  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 03-23-2011 10:09 PM                        Yeah I had trouble with the zippers creeping back down during the show, not opening all of the way, requiring an insanely long pulse to open, etc. I couldn't get the thing to work properly for the life of me. Fortunately we had a couple of Kelmar changeovers which were brand new just laying around for reasons unbeknownst so me so I installed one. It required a bit of modification to the rod as it needed to be bent a little to avoid the shutter, but after that it worked great forever. Since we had two new Kelmar changeovers, I'm pretty sure the other one is still there in the abandoned theater which has not been demolished yet. I didn't even think of it when we were taking everything out of the theater and it wasn't in an obvious place. Now it's just sitting there, never having been used, never will be used. Its dreams of the future are shattered, forever lonely. Oh well.  |  IP: Logged David E. Nedrow Master Film Handler Posts: 368 From: Columbus, OH, USA Registered: Oct 2008 posted 03-24-2011 07:39 PM                        Yeah, now I've got two Simplex electric changeovers that don't quite work. The Kelmar replacement isn't terribly expensive, even at list. Time to start saving pennies. Until then, tape to the rescue! -David  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 03-24-2011 07:50 PM                        Are you running reel to reel? If not, I'd just remove them completely and use the had douser if need be. If you are running reel to reel, then yeah, tape for now I suppose.  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 03-24-2011 08:03 PM                     quote: Joe Redifer Yeah I had trouble with the zippers creeping back down during the show, not opening all of the way, requiring an insanely long pulse to open, etc. I couldn't get the thing to work properly for the life of me. That sounds naughty...! I had written a response when this was first posted and recommended then to make sure the screw was tightened on the cable but then before I posted it I re-read it and saw it had mentioned the fire shutter so I deleted it and moved on. Sometimes (assuming it's a 'Zipper' brand) the mechanism can be forced manually and affect the cable by bending it so it doesn't have a straight friction-free run thus not getting full up/down action happening. Are you sure it's OK from the start and that it gets worse during the show or could it be that it's not opening up properly in the first place? If it is indeed drifting closed, make a mark on the cable where the shutter is attached and make a mark to see where the cable is to start with. If the cable is found to be moving, then the solenoid is not holding on.  |  IP: Logged

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