Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Century motor adapter plate

This is topic Century motor adapter plate in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 06-10-2004, 04:10 AM:

Today I installed a new motor on a Century R3-E. As you all know, the motors shipped out by Strong/Ballantyne these days are made by Leeson. The ex-motor was a GE. Which has a different overall size and the feet are spaced differently. So you also need the adapter plate for the mounting bracket. Now, the problem was the 4 slots in the adapter plate were too narrow for the old bolts to go through. Obviously slimmer bolts would have, but they wouldn`t have fit into the threading on the original bracket. So I filed the slots out.
Why is that? Are there some types of Century brackets which use slimmer bolts? Yes, Mark, I have the manual/parts list (and so does our dealer) but didn`t find different adapter or mounting plates in it.

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 06-10-2004, 09:07 AM:

Micheal, it is not unusual that you have to "finesse" the orginal casting since there have been many changes through the different owners of Century projector over the years. Dealers where lucky to have the shop drawings of changes as they happened but many times never made it into the service manuals in a timely manner. The GE sync motor was variation from the ORC ownership days.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 06-10-2004, 06:31 PM:

I understand, but still I found it a little strange as the plate also has a dozen threaded holes for the bolts to go through, so it wouldn`t have taken any secret information on the bolt size to adequately dimension the slots.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 06-10-2004, 07:40 PM:

Manytimes products change and century has changed owners quiet often and OEM suppliers as well
But not to be outdone I had to replace the drivegear on a FPSuper7 a few years ago and the rplacement didn't fit by a country mile had to have it lathe centred and bored out to make it fit
things change over time