Projector Belts

[wahiba]

I thought it was about time that I sorted out my 8mm gear and films. Found a few surprising items including unused Kodachrome satandard and super 8. I thought I had managed to use it all up in the final days of Kodachrome, evidently not.

It was the pair of Eumig 607 projectors. I have two the same as one was mine and the other inherited. I just plugged them in and set them running to see what happened. Light came on and motor whirred, but nothing moved. Quickly identified as belts having perished.

Now I do have some DIY belt material. Cut to length and then using a soldering iron melt the ends and push together. Sounds crude but it usually works. Sometimes the joint is not the best and breaks quickly. Other are as good as an original. I know it is tough stuff as I made a temporary belt for a small bench lathe which certainly had more torque on it that the projector will generate.

I realised to get a new belt in place means removing the bulb. I have had one go and found the belt was too long, playing safe. The projectors are well away from the soldering iron so next time I will bring them closer for quick changes to belt lengths.

Curious if anyone else has had to do this and how they managed it. Original was a small vee belt but I ssuspect a round section rubber will do. My belting is round but not rubber. It is made from some green plastic with a coarse outside for increased ahesion.

Will post when I have sorted it. Not an impossible job, just a bit of a clart.

[sciolist]

I've used such belts and they seem to work well when properly joined. There seem to be many suppliers and belts of various cross-section are available, including V-belts (see http://durabelt.com/splicingkitsinfo.php). I used a heat gun for melting and joining the belt material. There are fixtures available as aids and, although I didn't have any, it's likely they'd be helpful. I didn't join the belt material in place, preferring to measure the required length with a string.

[wahiba]

Thanks for the link. The picture of the simple spring loaded alignment tool is just what I need. I reckon I could easily make one. It is pretty obvious how it works.

I agree in that I usually use a piece of string to find the length. having the remains of the vee belt I thought would be easier. Evidently stretched more than I realised. Still not got back to finish the job. I am retired and still never seem to get around to all the jobs. How on earth did I manage when working?

[wahiba]

Tried eBay and found a few people offering the belts, Eumig 600 series and the old P8 I have too. So I thought i would give them a try. Basically rubber rings of the right size. Fitting on the P* is a doddle. Cannot say the same for the 607s, what a faff. Anyhow removing the lamp housing makes it easier, just.

Anyhow they are now running mechanically, but it seems the bulbs have gone. I think they are still used in over AV kit so can be picked up in the UK at Maplins still.

[wahiba]

Tried making my own belts, but it was easier, and cheaper to get some off ebay. Basically rubber ring belts rather than the original vee belts, but they have worked on both the 607s I have. Pretty difficult to get them on. Not a lot of room.
Thought I might have trouble getting new bulbs as Maplins on line did not seem to have them any more. However, Maplins shop had plenty.
So projectors working and projecting again.
Considering the films have just been domestically stored they all seem OK. Kodachrome colours still fine from 40 years ago. Have not got around to an Ilfochrome yet.
Quite while since iset up a film projector. Flat screen colour TVs certainly make life easy.