Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Westrex Pad Roller Issue

This is topic Westrex Pad Roller Issue in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 08-28-2009, 10:55 AM:

I've encountered a pair fo Westrex projectors and soundheads that seem to have non-standard pad rollers on them. These have a larger bore than say a P-3085 does and they are metal. The Westrex I am talking about is the one similar to the Century C I believe it's a Model 2000. Anyone here have any ideas on this???

Thanks!
Mark

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 08-28-2009, 11:11 AM:

Are they London built Westrex or something else wearing the Westrex badge? Monee for example.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 08-28-2009, 05:00 PM:

We have a small stash of LaVezzi rollers that are larger bore than normal. I think Ballantyne #6 used these as well.

(London made Westrex, 2000 or 2001 model number) Louis

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 08-28-2009, 05:02 PM:

Yes, I believe it's a Westrex 2000. Wolk is pretty sure the RCA pad rollers will fit on them so we'll try those first. If they don't then it's got to be some sort of metric size...

Mark

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 08-29-2009, 03:20 AM:

Metric! On a Westrex! Wash your keyboard out immediaetly!

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 08-29-2009, 07:54 AM:

Wasn't Westrex something other than American Standard OR metric? Louis

Posted by Gavin Lewarne (Member # 5397) on 08-29-2009, 03:09 PM:

Hi All!

i will introduce myself another time, but im posting here with some information about the issue in question.

I have carefully measured with calipers the internal bore of all the pad rollers on my pair of Westrex 2001's and they are all imperial measurements, some have a bigger bore than others, but none of them are neat metric sizes, all of them are imperial.

The same goes for the allen key grub screws on the pad roller shaft, they are imperial sizes as well. Odd that some of the larger hex screws and allen bolts used on the machines are metric though!

ta ta

Gavin

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 08-29-2009, 06:28 PM:

Hi Gavin,

Thanks for checking but what is the bore diameter measurement?

Thanks in advance,
Mark

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 08-29-2009, 08:05 PM:

London built Westrex machines use, IIRC, BA (British Attachment) thread forms on all the Allen cap screws etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Association_screw_threads

Gavin, there shouldn't be any Metric screws on them. Either someone has re-tapped or modified in some way, or you are confusing BA with Metric, some of them are so close as to be compatible.

I don't recall the bore sizes of the pad rollers offhand, nor am I near enough a machine to measure them, but rest assured they aer standard fractional Imperial sizes, ie 1/4" etc.

Posted by Gavin Lewarne (Member # 5397) on 08-30-2009, 12:26 PM:

mine all have imperial (BA) measuring threads, even on some of the larger bolts n screws. but the HEADS on the larger ones are perfect metric sizes, eg 5mm and 9mm! very weird!

i will re-measure the pad roller bores on tuesday if i get chance!

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 08-30-2009, 12:35 PM:

Yes, BA screw heads will fit Metric tools. Read the Wiki link I posetd above, all will become clear!

Posted by Ben Wales (Member # 92) on 08-31-2009, 04:15 PM:

quote: Gavin Lewarne
I have carefully measured with calipers the internal bore of all the pad rollers on my pair of Westrex 2001's and they are all imperial measurements.

All the Westrex 2001 range are Machined to British Imperial BA and Whitworth Measurements.

I guess the pair of Westrex 2001 you refer to are the pair at Plymouth Arts Centre, trust you are looking after them [Smile]

Posted by Gavin Lewarne (Member # 5397) on 09-01-2009, 12:34 AM:

a-HA! you found me! who be you may i ask? past employee?

Yeah they are going strong. Had to self machine a new cam for the intermittent on No2 a while ago (pin broke off!!), had to replace various bearings and gears No2, No1 has not been so unreliable.

Now have completely new Amps for the sound system and new Jaxlites and solar cells (yes yes i know jaxlites are poo), rear stereo surrounds now fitted and working, and i do a complete optical re-alignment of the lenses and arc mirrors every week.

Replaced all the pad rollers with new ones a while ago. Have removed "stupid" big roller under the take off spool and replaced with a twin pad roller arm - keeps the tension higher on the film as it enters the machines. Have found less rubbing to be the result.

FYI, if you know them, Gwyn and Austen are both fine!

um, cant think of much else i have done to the machines, other than regular maintenance and what-not. How long ago did you work there? under Bob i presume?

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 09-02-2009, 05:17 AM:

Back on topic.

Having this morning come across a Westrex pad arm & roller assembly, I can categorically tell you that the roller shaft/bore diameter is nominal 0.250" or 1/4", depending on how you like to express it.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-02-2009, 07:12 AM:

Thanks Pete! Thats a big help because I now know I ordered the correct pad rollers for one of my customers.

Mark

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 09-02-2009, 07:40 AM:

mark said "I now know I ordered the correct pad rollers for one of my customers."
I didn't know that a d cinema server and projector had pad rollers [Smile]