Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Christie M35-GP Shutter Assembly

This is topic Christie M35-GP Shutter Assembly in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 08-13-2002, 05:18 PM:

Recently we had a Christie shutter blade self-destruct. For those who are unfamiliar with the Christie shutter assembly, the blade is secured to the mount by three bolts. The bolts on the mount stick up through holes in the blade and are then secured by semi-circle of soft metal (I can bend in with my fingers). The best way to think of it is a sandwitch. There is nothing inherently wrong with this design that I can see, but when the shutter mount caught on a metal bur on the shutter drive shaft assembly it caused the 'sandwitch' to come apart. After looking over the projector I determined we needed a new shutter blade assembly. It arrived today and I got it installed no problem. I even remembered to file off the offending bur. One problem though, the projector is now noisy as hell. I have check the belts to make sure they were not too tight or loose, I made sure the shutter was properly placed on the drive shaft so it wouldn't rub on anything. I'm 90% sure that the shutter drive shaft assembly needs to be replaced. Its hard to tell, but the noise seems to be coming from there. Also, it didn't seem to spin as freely as it should when I installed the shutter. My question is this, do I need to lubricate the drive shaft or does it indeed need to be replaced?

Posted by Don Sneed (Member # 955) on 08-13-2002, 11:05 PM:

Dustin, one way to tell if the noise is coming from the shutter assy. is ti remove the shutter drive belt from the jackshaft....turn on the machine, no more noise...bingo it is the shutter assy bearings...if you still hear the noise, I would look at the jackshaft bearings, then sprocket bearings....also if you have Christie belt dressing, apply that, I had the noise to stop 50% of the time after applying..

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 08-14-2002, 12:59 PM:

I tried your suggestion Don and sure enough, the noise went away after removing the shutter timing belt. Looks like I'll be ordering a new shutter drive shaft assembly. Lets see now, new shutter, $108, new drive shaft assembly, $407, total cost of this repair (so far): $515. Maintenance free projector my ass.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 08-14-2002, 05:27 PM:

Dustin,
The best course for this machine is to take a shot gun and let it have it! Put the darn thing out of its misery.
Another possibility is to get the new "Christie Digital" Rear covers for them. That will make everything purrrrffect for forever. I'd just hat to imagine the cost of those rear covers though.
Mark

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 08-14-2002, 06:26 PM:

Oh how I would love to Mark. This particular projector never really has run right. Come to think of it the bearings in the shutter drive shaft were likely going for a while now, the projector has been noiser than the ohters for a while, though not this noisey. The sudden jolt when the shutter caught is likely what finally did it in.

Posted by Don Sneed (Member # 955) on 08-14-2002, 07:06 PM:

Dustin, just order the bearings & shutter drive pulley & replace them, it is a lot cheaper, or order the bearings, shutter pulley & a new shutter assy, repair the old old & have a replacement ready to install....believe me you will be doing this over & over again !!! Here's a tip....the shutter pulley set screw is lock tight in & will strip out if you tried to remove it...get a torch lit at a home depot. Lowes, wal-mart,any of these places will have it, before trying to loosen the set screw in the pulley put you allen wrench in place, heat the set screw & turn, the set screw will come at ease with stripping, you do not have to apply mush heat, just enough to melt the lock tight, be sure to wear gloves or use pliers on the allen it will get hot to touch...this is the easiest way to remove the set screw on a Christie without stripping the screw....I usually order a nes shutter assy the 1st. time I rebuild the old one...it will take about 15-mins the 1st. time you rebuild(replacing the bearings & pulley), but you will get it down to 5-minutes thereafter, have it ready to install in the next machine when the next one goes....AND IT WILL !!! Good Luck !!!