The spindle bearings on the old Orange Potts and Blue CFS platters are automotive rear axle bearings that were pressed on to the axles back in the '50's, '60's, and '70's. Again, take one out, get the number from it, and match it up.

If you have excessive slop in the bearings, do not condemn the bearings until you have checked the following:

On the Xetron platters, chances are the weld on the spindle to the bracket has broken. It was a flimsy weld. People have a tendency to use the platter disks as a step ladder, and the weld on the spindles can't handle that. I call that the "Step Ladder Syndrome"

On the A-3's, more than likely, the spindle is loose. Take the bottom cover off the arm, get a BIG wrench, and tighten it down. The socket you need is at least 1 inch, but I forgot the size. I *think* you can get it tight enough with a combination wrench if you don't want to fiddle with the wiring. Again, the "Step Ladder Syndrome" probably caused them to work loose.

On orange and blue Potts/CFS platters, the bearing might be just plain worn out, but I doubt it. Check the spindle mounting for broken welds like the Xetron.

I have only seen one CFS spindle go goofy. They can take 10 times more abuse than any other platter when it comes to the Step Ladder Syndrome.

What the rest of the manufacturers use, I really don't know, and I really don't care. But I'll bet you can find them in a bearing supply house without any trouble.

Don't forget to get new seals!

Yeah, Joe. The vacuum sweeper motors have anough suction to draw the north end of a southbound skunk through its south end. Check out the Suk-O-Lux vacuum sweeper in the movie "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" - that should prove it. I'll bet it was powered by an Strong A-3 or a CFS Platter Motor.

The Christie motor doesn't have enough "oomph" to toss the print on the floor and sheer off the payout head slicker than elephant snot on a brass doorknob like the Strongs, CFS, Potts, Xetrons, AW-1's, AW-2's, and the LP-270's are perfectly capable of doing. Those platters have balls. When these were manufactured, the design factor of "job security for the projectionist" comes to mind. The manufacturers were just looking out for us poor slobs running this shit, right?

Now a real good point of the Eprad platters is that they require a projectionist at all times to give it a push when the selonoids, clutches, or the Maytag washing machine motor takes a dump. Again, Eprad was thinking of us - Job security.

Not only that, but the "shaft" up the middle keeps the print on the platter.

Then, along came the AW-3R. It is so sleek, so smooth, and so reliable that nobody needs to pay attention to them. The projectionist feels like a Maytag repairman with nothing to do. He/she jazzes around in the projection booth getting lazy, watches TV, the movies themselves, gets in the way of the rest of the employees so they can't do their job, and corporate sees this as a chance to strike. And, they do. They replace all the qualified operators with popcorn salespeople (some of which cannot even operate a broom) and expect to have a top-notched quality presentation.

After several years, the AW-3 starts to get a little upset because of the lack of attention, and changes a few internal settings like the robot in "Short Circuit." By then, it is too late. The AW-3 will wait for a chance to strike back, and it will - during a full house of a blockbuster movie when the platter is being used as a take-up device with three or more houses interlocked to it, and a popcorn salesman/manager with the intellegience of a Granite rock is at the helm.

Ooooo, goodie! I went to work for a theatre when I quit MTS and came back to Washington State in March of 1983. The theatre I went to work for fit the above criteria. It was so bad, the owner of that little Tri-Plex was told by the film companies "you better get someone who knows what the hell they are doing in the booth, or we won't let you have any more of our films to shread on the first night."

Enter the Weenie Man...

In other words, ladies and gentlemen, all platters have their good points and bad points. Some swear by a particular brand, and some swear at them. If you look at the number of Potts, CFS, Christie, LP Asscociates, Xetrons, and others as well, they have obvoiusly earned the respect of those in the industry, namely us.

Most machines, if properly maintained, will run for years without too much of a problem. On the other side of the same token, you can take the best there is, neglect it, abuse it, and ignore it, it will not perform as expected for very long.

Personally, I will accept any of the platters I have mentioned above in my booth, with the exception of the Eprad, the AW-1 or AW-2. You get what you pay for.

Paul

Time according to the manual.

Then move the motors up 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch. The platters will run a bit slow, and the film will fall behind...sometimes a full wrap or two (especially during the first roll of a long, heavy print), but I have never seen any film damage.

A five-deck's middle platter takes a bit more tweaking, but I have got three 5-decks that have never given me any trouble with timing issues (one microswitch, two phase-control).

LED failure? Too much current through the SCR/Triac? (or whatever they use)

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I use an S6020L scr as a replacement (600 volt, 20 amp, isolated tab) and I buy mine from Mouser (part number 519-S6020L) for about $2.25 each. I have never had any of the replacements I use fail. I would agree surge current kills the originals. The original scr is a S4015L which you can just about guess it's specs by it's part number.

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You will have to re-position the motors so the rubber tires come in contact with the platter. If memory serves me correctly, the motor is bolted to the platter with two screws. The rear one can be a problem to get to.