Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: X-L Users: How Often Do You Clean Behind The Shutter?

This is topic X-L Users: How Often Do You Clean Behind The Shutter? 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=005188

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 08-09-2003, 02:19 PM:

Now that summer is winding down and were back to fall running times, I'm catching up on some much-needed maintenance. Would like to know how often those of you with Simplex X-L heads totally remove the shutter for proper cleaning? A few years back our tech cautioned me not to do this, but the dust and oily grime that builds up is to much to overlook. I value this guy's advice, however, he is also a businessman who wants calls for broken equipment. So how often . . . every month, six months, once a year?

(Oh and John if you're lurking out there --- I'm sure your be getting some calls after the management transition we spoke of the last time you were up here).

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 08-09-2003, 03:47 PM:

It is actually to prevent calls your technician advised not to remove the shutter.

When I operated Simplexs regularly, we didn't remove the shutter but weekly cleaned behind it. All it takes is a tooth bush and a vacuum to go behind the air fins. If you keep your projectors cleaned regularly rather than let it build up, then it isn't really ever a chore...same goes for the platter decks...it is easier to keep them clean than to wait until the grime is visible.

Steve

[ 08-09-2003, 05:03 PM: Message edited by: Steve Guttag ]

Posted by Rick Long (Member # 213) on 08-10-2003, 01:08 AM:

I agree with Steve on this one in that the technician wished to avoid future service calls. Most of us are overbooked enough now, as it is.

One thing you might want to check though: the tie-wraps securing the framing light and aperture changer motor wires. These secure the wires running along the upper shutter-housing screw shaft to their appropriate locations.

We have found over the years that the original white tie-wraps are adversely affected by the ultra-violet light from the arc, and become as brittle as bone china, and subsequently break.

In this instance, the wires can be dragged down between the projector housing and shutter, forcing the shutter away from the housing and causing all sorts of problems.

The cure is to replace these with the black (ultra-violet light resistant) tie-wraps (available (here in Canada anyways) inexpensively from Home Depot).

Same cure applies to holding the line to the exhaust air-switch line up in the Highlight II consoles.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 08-10-2003, 01:26 AM:

I clean mine when needed.

Posted by William H. Ward (Member # 1797) on 08-20-2003, 10:51 AM:

Dust/dirt build-up on a shutter blade can cause a flicker on the screen. Recommend cleaning often (weekly) if possible. Canned compressed air and a computer service vaccum works great.

Posted by Andrew Duggan (Member # 1302) on 08-20-2003, 11:56 AM:

I'm on a weekly schedule with cleaning the shutter. As long as you keep to a tight regiment of using a small vacuum, compressed air and a good rag on it, the buildup you're referring to will no longer be a problem. You could probably even make it a nightly thing when you're cleaning off the rest of the unit, if you wanted to. It shouldn't take more than a minute or two.