Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Simplex XL Busted Retainer Pin, But The Show Still Goes On.

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Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 06-19-2004, 06:26 PM:

Pad roller spring guide retaining pin (P-1458) discombooberated itself and the recessed part of that pin snapped off slicker that elephant snot dangling from a limb of a tree.

Many operators would panic when they saw a spring bouncing all over the place a couple of minutes before showtime. No need to panic.

The machine will run just fine if that pin has snapped. The weight of the pad roller arm (P-1456) is sufficient to keep the film on the lower holdback sprocket without any problems even if a splice passes by. If you feel uncomfortable about that, just find a rubber band and lasso the pad roller shafts with a rubber band and hook the other end of the band to the part that holds the door closed.

It takes longer to find the parts that may be adrift in the machine. Those you want to get out of the machine unless you want to risk some film damage. The most desirable situation is to account for all the parts that fell off before you start your machine. If you don't know where they are, big trouble could result.

I post this for three reasons:

1. Don't have a heart attack when something breaks. If you know your machines as well as I do, you can get away with just about anything.

2. When something breaks of falls off, make sure you can account for ALL (not just some) of the parts.

3. Don't wait until the last minute to thread your machines. That's when you really waltz on yourself if something does break - which will obviously be when you are the busiest.

End of lecture.

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 06-19-2004, 06:45 PM:

I had the same thing happen on one machine; I lived with a rubber band for a while til I got the part. More recently I had a pad roller axle break on the upper bad. I subbed one from the bottom which can easily run with a single roller whereas the top is far safer with both.

BTW, to save me from looking at the manual, is the eccentric axle the one at the end of the arm? Since that is the one that breaks from metal fatigue it makes more sense to have it in the opposite position where it doesn't get stressed by being used as the handle. Should still be able to properly set clearance by using the stop screw to set for the solid axle and the eccentric axle to allow for any difference needed.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 06-19-2004, 09:26 PM:

Upper Feed Sprocket Pad Roller, the off-set one is on the left. The holdback sprocket pad roller did not call for one, but theree is still a possibility that it does exist. I have seen them in some projectors.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-20-2004, 12:19 AM:

Mental note to look up P-1458...me thinks I've seen more P-1447 pins snap off on the lower feed sprocket. It is probably one of the poorest designs on the XL. First you have a fork that is trying to saw it...second you use this weakened part (since it has a groove for the fork it acts like a score line) to act as an arm stop...sooner or later...SNAP.

Steve

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 06-20-2004, 12:25 AM:

Don't know for sure Steve G., I referenced the part number out of an old book dating back to the '50's, unless my tri-focals read it wrong.... [Big Grin]

And you said your comment absolutely right on the money. [beer]

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-20-2004, 01:50 PM:

Hmmm.

P-1458 didn't show in the book I just looked in (cira NSS ownership of Simplex)...however There is a P-1457 and an P-1459 so I'll buy that there was a P-1458 that was on the lower feed assy. The P-1447 is what shows as the part.

Steve

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 06-20-2004, 02:14 PM:

Here she be....

[ 06-20-2004, 03:29 PM: Message edited by: Paul G. Thompson ]

Posted by Jack Ondracek (Member # 1466) on 06-20-2004, 10:15 PM:

quote: Paul G. Thompson
slicker that elephant snot dangling from a limb of a tree.

...you've personally seen this, Paul?????

[Razz]

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 06-21-2004, 12:31 AM:

I've had those snap on several occasions. I just used a rubber band to hold the pad roller closed till I got it fixed.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 06-21-2004, 12:49 PM:

Jack, in a zoo. it sure looked like it. It must have one heck-of-a-sneeze. [Big Grin]

Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 06-21-2004, 06:12 PM:

I lost a 40x5/16" screw from the intermittent shoe of one of my Century SA's this past weekend. We had to manually align the rail during threading as I had no spares of that particular screw, and the hardware stores were closed. So I believe Paul's rules on if something breaks. I'd be happier if the damn screws wouldn't fall into the metal pan below our Xetron consoles though... I love sifting through dust with a magnetic flat blade... [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Randy Bowden (Member # 587) on 06-23-2004, 05:22 PM:

Your replacement pins are on the way. It is probably a good idea that you ordered three. It is entirely possible that you could bend or break one upon trying to install it...so be careful. If you have never done this before you will need a heavy hammer, a punch and vice. Pound out the old one, and lighly hammer in the new to avoid damage. Any questions call me. I prefer to remove the entire feed assy to put it all back together, makes life easier. Good Luck!

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-23-2004, 05:26 PM:

Yeah, you can also crack the casting too. Be careful on that hammering...if you expand the metal using the hammer method you will be really upset with your situation.

Steve

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 06-23-2004, 09:07 PM:

Steve, absolutely!

I was thinking about that. I think when I re-install a new shaft, I'll probably cool it with dry ice and press it in with a press.

I hate that when I pick up a book on a certain piece of equipment and find three or four different part numbers for the same part. I am sure it drives the venders nuts!