Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Simplex 5 Star Soundhead and Motor Shaking

This is topic Simplex 5 Star Soundhead and Motor Shaking in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 03-20-2004, 01:24 PM:

I can't tell exactly what is causing the shake other than it pulsates like an old steam engine. Sometimes the motor will jump but all the bolts holding it in place are tight. I've checked the belt and belt tension and cannot see anything out of the ordinary. Could it be that I might be loosing a bearing on the sprocket shaft? This has got progressively worse over the last couple of days. One thing I should mention that may help the diagnosis is when I apply forward pressure on the motor with my hand, the shake goes away and the soundhead runs fine. Now I don't want to readjust the bolts holding the motor in place because that may indeed destroy the bearings if these aren't the immediate problem. Any help is appreciated.

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 03-20-2004, 02:32 PM:

Change the belts....They may look good but may have problems not apparent. I have had this problem before and changing the belts solved the problem.

Also when you have the belts off clean out the drive belt groves on the Soundhead drive wheel to get any oil deposits out of the groves this will help prevent the belt from jumping the groves.

Posted by John T. Mellor (Member # 468) on 03-20-2004, 03:43 PM:

also when you change the belts check to see that the fly wheel bolts are tight I've had quite a few loosen . while you have the belts off time to check all the shafts and bearings. The idler pulley also goes bad frequently.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-20-2004, 10:16 PM:

Yea, I'd be willing to bet that there is a chewed up main drive shaft, bad bearings, and a wobbling pulley. If thats the case its best to replace ALL the bearings in the entire sound reproducer. They're relatively cheap bearings and if this is what you find wrong then an overhaul is well worth the time spent. When you order the new belts check if you hvae square tooth or round tooth in there....
Mark @ CLACO

Posted by Rick Long Jr (Member # 541) on 03-21-2004, 08:30 AM:

Make sure you have the right belts installed. Strong changed the belt type in the early 90's from the 260 XL square tooth belt to the new 51-05014 belts. They run VERY rough with the wrong belt, but can be forced to smooth out with a lot of tension - a BAD idea.
Could just be crud in between the teeth on the motor pinion though.