Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Swollen Christie Payout Head

This is topic Swollen Christie Payout Head in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003389

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 05-03-2002, 11:34 PM:

This week I discovered some payout heads in the Christie AW3/AW3R that were swollen in place.

First, I had a Dickens of a time getting them out. Had to "wiggle" them while firmly pulling upward. It was necessary to refasten some of the white guide posts that came loose as a result of the manhandling.

I noticed an inordinate amount of old, dirty lube on the shaft and in the axle. At first, I wondered whether this is what caused the problem or if this was done in an attempt to alleviate the problem.

Cleaning the axle and shaft did not solve the problem, so I ruled out the idea that the lube was causing the heads to become stuck. I figured that the shaft had somehow expanded - possibly a rust issue - so I took a strip of sandpaper and sanded one of the shafts down to size. Then I cleaned it off with alcohol to get rid of the metal filings. This worked out okay, so I did enough so that there could be at least one per platter system.

Anybody know what causes this? Also...is it dangerous to sand them down like that? What's your take on using lube on the shaft or in the axles?

I still have the other payouts to do. Awaiting advice.

------------------
And, hey! Let's be careful out there.

~Manny.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-03-2002, 11:58 PM:

Here's a tip, 40 grit sandpaper! Works great. Do them once like you did (but not "just enough" to make it fit, do it a bit more) and then you can forget about it for several years. If you don't do this, you will end up cracking the joint between the base of the brain and the shaft during repeated attempts to remove them, and then the brains are useless.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 05-04-2002, 12:13 AM:

I have two thoughts on this:

First, I have seen some of the bottom "posts" where it was miscast or badly machined so that there is a burr on it. It's just big enough to make the brain go in tight.

The second thing is that some people just bash the brains around and slam them into place. The don't try to line things up when they insert it. This causes small burrs to develop on the bottom of the brain and around the edge of the hole.

Take a file or sandpaper and remove the burrs. If, in your opinion, the brains have seen some abuse make noise about it! If you can't get people to change their ways you will have covered your ass.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-04-2002, 02:58 AM:

I had some burrs on mine. A nice bastard mill file is what I used.

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 05-04-2002, 02:59 PM:

Okay, thanks for the tips & tricks. I appreciate them.

Now, what about lubrication? I never used to lube them before and I didn't have problems with them. Is lubrication necessary?

------------------
And, hey! Let's be careful out there.

~Manny.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 05-04-2002, 08:45 PM:

The only lubrication I would give a platter is a couple of small blobs of grease between the "donut" bearings underneath the deck.

The more lubrication you put on, the more dirt and junk get collected in it and the more problems you have with it down the road... Not to mention the mess you have when you go to make any repairs.