Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Stumped on a AW-3 Take-up arm Problem! Can anyone help?

This is topic Stumped on a AW-3 Take-up arm Problem! Can anyone help? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Michael Dolan (Member # 4808) on 01-06-2009, 03:17 PM:

Ok heres the situation. All of a suddent the top platter of my AW-3 platter system the take-up arm started getting hung up while coming away from the motor. I opened up the access at the end of the Platter Arm Beam and I noticed that the arm is getting hung up on the black switch fr the LED motor Light. (I hope i am using the correct terms if not im sorry). At first I thought it was th spring so I ordered a new one. I replaced te spring but its still getting hung up.

Im lost and I don't know where to go next. This is the first time I have ever had to deal with a situation like this

Posted by Dominic Espinosa (Member # 2122) on 01-06-2009, 03:49 PM:

If you're not having trouble paying out film my money is on the white nylon finger on the end of the return arm.

With the return arm assy unbolted from the deck arm, behind the spring where the arm pivots in the bracket you'll see it right in the middle. It's held in with the pin that ties the whole assembly together and has a small spring behind it.

When the return arm is engaged that finger pushes against the same assembly the centerfeed engages for payout. Normally when you press the return arm towards the motor you'll see the feed arm on the centerfeed move counter clockwise (the opposite direction it would move if it were paying out).
This action moves the light filter between the LED and the photoresistor which translates to speed control for the deck in question.

What might be happening is that nylon finger could have worn/shrunk over time and is slipping past the assembly on takeup and is getting stuck coming back.

Otherwise I'd say there was some kind of trauma that shoved things out of alignment.

Posted by Michael Dolan (Member # 4808) on 01-06-2009, 03:59 PM:

Thnks dominic the nylon finger was my 3rd. guess bu I checed that ad it was ok. However whe you posted your reply i wen tback and checked again. I noticed that the assembly arm was actually getting caught on what looked like a very small set screw just opposite of the nylon finger. I loosened the screw out a little and it seeme to solve the problem for now.

That seemed to be too simple of a fix so we will see what happenes in the future.

Thanks for your help Dominic I appreciate it

Posted by Phil Ranucci (Member # 3820) on 01-06-2009, 05:07 PM:

Sometimes the filter disk also slides on the shaft and can hang up on the return arm or the LED. If you have to adjust the disc height be careful as the set screw is really tight and you can strip the head of it. Don't use a ball-end hex wrench.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-07-2009, 03:57 AM:

Most often, assuming that everything is not "colliding" and has proper vertical spacing, just remove the axle and gently bend the "U" shaped black metal piece that sits below the light filter such that at the zero position (spring relaxed as far as this "U" shaped piece will allow) is prevented and instead stops at about the 5% position. Sorry for the lack of a better term, but the side of this "U" shaped piece actually rests up against a set screw and you don't want it to quite go that far.

That explanation probably makes no sense because I am so tired right now, but if you remove an axle and can't figure out what I am talking about, take a picture and post it and I will draw an arrow on it showing what I am talking about.

Once you do this the problem is gone forever.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 01-07-2009, 04:47 AM:

I had a similar problem last summer. When I took everything apart I found the disk which controls the light to the photo cell was getting hung up on the wires. I don't remember exactly why this was happening, but once I discovered this I was able to eliminate the problem.

Posted by Joe Elliott (Member # 4006) on 01-07-2009, 11:03 AM:

If it is the nylon finger, it may have gotten bent when someone leaves the brain in, and pulls the take-up arm all the way forward. The brain will not allow the internal arm to move all the way forward, so the finger has to bend. Replacing the finger is best. Trying to bend it back is only a temporary solution, as it will bend much easier later.

Posted by Al Biers (Member # 1961) on 01-07-2009, 06:50 PM:

When I find the nylon finger bad I take it out, the platter will run just fine, as I remember the original units did not have a finger, just make sure the return spring is in good condition and with proper tension.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 01-08-2009, 08:38 AM:

I have done the same thing.

Posted by Philip Wittlief (Member # 1724) on 01-08-2009, 11:02 AM:

I have had this issue on a good handful of AW3's that are about 2 years old. The 2 things I've found are that the filter disc is loose on the shaft or the screw and washer that set a stop point for the U-bracket that Brad mentioned is loose. I move the washer all the way to one side so that the bracket hits it sooner. There's very little tolerance for the arm to get hung up.