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Topic: Simplex E7 help needed

John Eickhof
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 588
From: Wendell, ID USA
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 03-30-2001 01:17 AM

It was proceedure when I worked for Altec Service to run a pipe cleaner through the pipe every service call on the RCA & Simplex
soundheads. (The XL soundhead was bad because you had to unscrew the fill-sight tube in order to run the pipe cleaner through!) The others had a plug on the end of the pipe
that you would remove and the pipe cleaner would slide through easily. On the RCA 9030 & 9050 there is a breather hole in the top cover of the gearbox, if it is clear, oiling and sight levels will be easy and stay accurate. Another problem is oil under the 'flip' type caps on the Simplex heads that will air-lock and give a false oil reading!
It is wise to take a pair of wire cutters and make a notch on the rim of the oil cup, thus when the cap closes, it will not seal the cup! Many a dry soundhead gearbox was attributed to this problem!

------------------
John Eickhof President, Chief Slave
Northwest Theatre Equipment Co., Inc.
P.O.Box 258
Wendell, ID. 83355-0258
208-536-5489
email: jeickhof@nteequip.com

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 03-30-2001 01:23 AM

Hi, John

Those are some excellent ideas for people to follow. They do plug up at times.

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Daryl Lund
Film Handler

Posts: 88
From: Chehalis,WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 03-30-2001 02:05 AM

Dose the 1040 have a plug like the 1050? I take out the plug, it lets out the air when the oil is going in and when it runs out of the hole when its full. Randy is this true? Folks Randy is one of the best rebuilders on the west coast. He has rebuilt hundreds of projectors and soundheads.

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 03-30-2001 02:26 AM

Daryl, I recall seeing those plugs you speak of, but I never used them for that purpose.

They would be a nice - if you have the projector sitting level.

However, what about if you are in an outdoor with the projector sitting at a steep up angle? Or an "Old Barn" when the projector is sitting on the 3rd or 4th balcony?

I would rather rely on the old sight glass, and forget about the plug. I only toasted one gearbox in 34 years. That was in my first year. But as a tech, I rebuilt a ton of them.

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Daryl Lund
Film Handler

Posts: 88
From: Chehalis,WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 03-31-2001 05:36 PM

Paul Good point I forgot a couple of old barns that I have worked in and I remember the steep slope.

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 04-02-2001 05:40 AM

Daryl, there was a theater in the Oakland Local jurisdiction that had a very steep projection angle. I can't remember which theater it was, but the projectionist was changing to a cinemascope lense and it got away from him. The porthole, I believe, was an insulated mega-phone style, with no glass.

It slid down the chute, and landed in a customer's lap! All the projectionist heard was an "OOF!" The projectionist was a little afraid to go out there and ask, "Duh, can I have my lense back?" When he finally built up the courage to retrieve the lense, the customer handed to him politely.

Luckly, the patron was not injured. If it would have fallen on his head, he could have been killed.

That was the days when nobody sued anybody for anything. Today, that would have been a total disaster.

I know this has nothing to do with this tread, but I got a chuckle out of it when the steep angle entered the picture.

It is not a good idea to sit under the projection porthole of an old barn. You might be surprised at what comes out the chute.

In the sea going days of the early 1940's, the Ship's Master had one of those contraptions to communicate with the Chief Engineer in the control room. It looked like a funnel with a hose attached.

Get the picture? Since there are humans involved, more than likely, it has happened.

Pee into the Tube, Oh Toothless one....
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Good Day!
Paul, a Retired Navy Chief

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