Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Century SA strange squealing sound

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Posted by John Westlund (Member # 913) on 04-12-2006, 08:34 PM:

I got a call of a Century SA on an R3 soundhead where the soundhead was making a loud squeal for the first several seconds during startup. First thing I did was remove the drive belt and switch the machine on. The noise was not there so I reinstalled the belt and again switched the machine on and could hear the loud noise coming from what seems to be the bottom of the projector. I check all the gears and all have been recently greased. I oiled the upper and lower sprocket shafts and still could hear the noise. Then I removed the lower sprocket shaft and ran the machine and the noise is still there. Im assuming that this is a bearing making the noise but just want to make sure theres nothing else I should check. I forgot to mention, the intermittent was just rebuilt a couple months ago. Thanks

Posted by Richard May (Member # 2627) on 04-12-2006, 09:07 PM:

Check the belt tensioner in the soundhead. I've seen that go on many machines. Would squeal for a while then stop.

Posted by Bob Koch (Member # 1062) on 04-12-2006, 09:33 PM:

John;
Some things never change no matter how much time has elapsed.
Century was never known for precision, so I would suggest you check the bearings on the sound sprocket on the alleged reproducer. Take ahold of the sprocket and see how much you can move it. Isolate the shaft, turn it manually and,I think you will find the problem there. They decided ,in their infinite wisdom,to replace a bronze sleeve with these two bit ball bearings that should`nt even be used on a child`s toy.I can`t remember when they decided to do that.

Posted by John Westlund (Member # 913) on 04-13-2006, 12:14 AM:

When I take the drive belt off between the soundhead and projector the noise goes away so that should eliminate the soundhead sprocket as the problem. The tensioner is something I have not checked and I will give that a try.

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 04-13-2006, 12:56 AM:

If it is a high pitch 'bird-like' tweeting/squeaking sound it is definitely the tensioner roller. Remove it, clean it and (if it is one of the ones that doesn't have a bearing in it) lube it.

Problem Solved.

-Aaron

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 04-13-2006, 05:51 AM:

THe "ultimate repair" is to change that roller assembly to the newer style with ball bearings. You must have an older R3 with the formica roller. Also change the R5-80, the roller just after the sound sprocket if it has not already been changed. Quiet forever! Louis

Posted by John T. Hendrickson, Jr (Member # 849) on 04-13-2006, 08:37 PM:

You are right on Louis. I just changed one of those old formica ones out last week for a new one with the ball bearings. Instant quiet.