Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Troubles with Kelmar Changeover

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-17-2003, 02:19 AM:

Today I get a new changeover from Kelmar to replace the Simplex one that had gone bad. I try to install it, but it does not quite fit my projector. It mounts to the chassis just fine, but the pole that connects the electric changeover to the actual douser plate is the problem. I'll refer to that as "Mr. Stick" from here on out.

The problem is the douser plate and its hinge. The plate is connected to the hinge by a straight diagonal plate. When Mr. Stick is inserted into the douser plate and it is open, all is fine. When the plate tries to close, the diagonal plate rubs against Mr. Stick as it falls, thus pushing Mr. Stick out of the douser plate. The end of Mr. Stick that pokes through the plate is not long enough to stay in. When I lock Mr. Stick onto the douser plate with the washer and pin the plate simply cannot be closed all the way. If I rotate Mr. Stick around and poke it through the other side of the changeover all works fine and good, except it becomes impossible to put the projector cover back on at all since the slot is further over to the left.

I am fairly confident that I am installing it correctly, even though the manual is pretty vague (it's a Kelmar!). There is no other way it could be installed that I can see. One thing I did notice, though is that the manual says "Simplex XL" everywhere. I do not have a Simplex XL. It is simply a Simplex 35. Did Brightstar send me the wrong changeover? There are two different sets of holes on the mounting adaptor plate, one for 35mm and the other for 35/70. I of course selected the 35mm holes.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Posted by German Marin (Member # 918) on 05-17-2003, 08:13 AM:

Try making a new hole.

It's as hard as steel, but we did it to 11 plates.

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 05-17-2003, 10:18 AM:

One of holes in the plate (as it comes from Kelmar) is for use with Century projectors.

IMHO, I have never liked Kelmar changeovers. I'm a "Zipper" man!

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-17-2003, 12:00 PM:

The holes in the Kelmar plate is not the issue. It is the actual douser plate itself. As the plate swings down, it pushes Mr. Stick OUT of the hole for the douser. Please re-read my original post.

Also I am not trying to attach this to a Christie projector.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 05-17-2003, 12:11 PM:

The simplex versionof the kelmar shoud have a single hole in it
The century one has 2 holes one for SA's and one for C's
I would sujest replacing the actual dowser blade

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 05-17-2003, 12:58 PM:

Does Mr. Stick have tiny holes at either or both ends to allow a cotter pin to be inserted thus eliminating the possibility of Mr. Stick's dislodging from either end? If so, add the cotter pin(s) (all Simplex versions of the Kelmar/Strong douser I have seen are so equipped). If not, simply get the version of Mr. Stick that has the cotter holes. If Mr. Stick is binding or rubbing in its travel, some careful strategic bending usually remedies the problem.

-Aaron

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-17-2003, 02:05 PM:

Can you post pics? I'm not 100% clear on exactly what is happening here. You should just put the xenon on the exciter circuit and stop hassling with it.
[Big Grin]

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-17-2003, 03:55 PM:

Aaron- with the pins instact through the holes, the douser cannot close as I indicated in my first post above.

Brad- you can still see the image onscreen if the lamp turns off and film is still running with no dowser.

Posted by Jonathan Worthing (Member # 803) on 05-17-2003, 04:12 PM:

quote:
You should just put the xenon on the exciter circuit and stop hassling with it.

Depending on your turnaround of shows it is much better for the xenon to leave it running. Striking the lamp all the time takes hours off the life.

As to the problem with the dowser, as per Brad's post give us pictures so we can see the problem more clearly.

I have fixed a similar problem changing the bar for a cable. The old Westar changeovers use to have a similar assembly.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-17-2003, 05:08 PM:

quote:
Brad- you can still see the image onscreen if the lamp turns off and film is still running with no dowser.

Huh? Your xenons take a while to dim down or something? You shouldn't bother buying more xenons if you don't need them lit to see an image! [Big Grin]

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-17-2003, 05:13 PM:

Yeah, when they turn off without a dowser it looks like the image is burned into the screen (if it is a rating band). Then you can see it start to tail out. This is with the house lights up and the slide projector on.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-18-2003, 01:45 AM:

OK, hopefully these pics help clear up the confusion (it is very difficult to describe without visual aids).

Here is a top view of the douser plate (1) and the arm (2) that is used to connect it to the hinge. Notice that the arm is at an angle.

Here is the douser in the open position. The rod, or "Mr. Stick" (3) slides into the hole (4) of the douser plate. The other end, of course, connects to the Kelmar unit.

When the douser closes, the rod (5) is pushed outward laterally by the arm (2), causing it to slide out of the hole (6). If I put the cotter pin on, lateral movement is prevented, and douser simply cannot close. Either way it doesn't work, and I think I would have to change the douser itself to a newer model. If I rotate the rod (5) around and make it so that it enters the douser hole (6) from the other side, everything works perfectly well, except I cannot put the shutter cover back on the projector because there is no slot for the rod (5) in that position.

Doesn't really matter, though. While I had the old Simplex changeover detatched, I was able to look at it at the bench and fix it good. So I don't even need the Kelmar.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 05-18-2003, 11:46 AM:

Joe,

Sometimes slight rebending of Mr. Stick will allow it to function fully without causing any mechanical interaction (won't hit anything)..

As to the Essanay changeover (aka Simplex XL, SXL-5)...your stop plate is already down one nut (inboard side). Ever since the asbestoes scare, they haven't make the stop blocks out of asbestoes so they crack everytime the douser closes....without the block and with the Essanay flex shaft, the douser will bounce. Using a moder stop block, it shatters in a short period of time.

Steve

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 05-18-2003, 12:53 PM:

quote:
Huh? Your xenons take a while to dim down or something? You shouldn't bother buying more xenons if you don't need them lit to see an image!

Nah... he just needs lower-wattage framing lights!

It almost sounds like something's missing. I put that assembly on 2 of my XL's. It does take a little attention, but the slotted mounting plate should have more than enough play to get it right... and one of the holes should work fine.

Ken... stop your whining! It's a great comfort to know that my dowsers have enough power to move my wimpy dowser plates, with enough reserve to tow a small Volkswagen!

Posted by Scott Manley (Member # 867) on 05-18-2003, 07:29 PM:

Hey German...........how hard was it to get it to work on a Christie.........have had alot of problems with Christie changeovers

Posted by Don Furr (Member # 1469) on 05-18-2003, 07:48 PM:

Hi Joe.........
I've got the exact setup here at the house and my douser control rod is not shaped anything like the picture you are showing. These take one bend toward the non operating side and then straight down. No problems.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 05-18-2003, 07:58 PM:

Joe--why did you order an entire new Kelmar changeover? Wolk has "zipper" parts available new (new old stock?). I agree that Kelmar changeovers are better, but not by enough to justify replacing the entire thing when all you need is a small part.

I guess it doesn't matter at this point...I'm just curious.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 05-18-2003, 09:06 PM:

I didn't order a new changeover. I was (essentially) offered one (or three) because one of my units wasn't working properly and I said "sure". I actually like the Simplex changeovers better than the Kelmars simply because there is a place to put the Film-Tech rewinder core for the media cleaners (on the tightening screw)!

Posted by German Marin (Member # 918) on 05-26-2003, 08:53 PM:

Hi Scott Manley,
While Christie's douser were working into the projector they begun to fail. Sometimes they close without a reason but the real reason is the douser has bad quality, the screw with the little ball loss properties and the calibration is terrific.
My explanation of how to modified christie's douser is HEREand Then HERE
Thanks