Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Intake blower on Christie SLC lamphouse is not being my friend

This is topic Intake blower on Christie SLC lamphouse is not being my friend in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 02-06-2010, 03:45 PM:

I have two Christie SLC 30 lamphouses of fairly old vintage. The intake blowers have a note that says "Clean impeller and oil motor every 6 month [sic]. 4-5 drops do not over oil". I have been doing this, but these machines were used and I have no idea how they were treated previously. Oh, and the intake vent is plenty clean and unobstructed as well.

The problem is that these blowers on both lamphouses do not like to wake up in the morning and go to work. It takes them forever to get started and usually it is pure luck that they start working. Sometimes just opening and closing the lamphouse door does it (and no, it isn't the door switch). I have forbidden them from being powered off in the mean time.

So whatcha think? Replace blowers? Remove and give thorough cleaning? They look like kind of a bitch to remove, can't exactly do it between sets.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 02-06-2010, 04:27 PM:

Yes, but don't go to Grainger. The new part numbers don't fit, are made in China, and 65% fail within 6 months.

Use Google to look up the old Grainger number so you can get the original blower (Mexico) that will fit. Louis

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 02-06-2010, 06:00 PM:

While it is true that the new motors often require sheet metal work...they use ball bearings and seem to be doing as well or better than the previous motors.

Steve

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 02-06-2010, 07:21 PM:

I would vote for new blower assys. from Christie. I believe they come with the moun ting bracket ready to install. They are also Chinese but are very well made motrors and ARE BALL BEARING! They are not cheap either but it is the best way to go...

Mark

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 02-06-2010, 07:46 PM:

Once they're whistling in the morning there's no going back. Time to replace 'em.

Posted by Demetris Thoupis (Member # 833) on 02-07-2010, 01:16 AM:

Or you could have a simple starting capacitor go kaboom. The motor might start eventualy but the capacitor gives that starting boost.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 02-07-2010, 03:41 AM:

They're basically shaded pole motors with OILITE bearings. Thus, no cap in series with the windings.

I've taken these motors apart, cleaned the hardend oil off on the shafts with FG, relubed the bearings, soaked up the cotton wick that surrounds these bearings with 10w oil and put them back together.

-Monte

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 02-07-2010, 10:15 AM:

I would think the ones that Christie supplies would be best. I know their newer blowers do not require the oil. God forbid that anything is made in the US, though.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 02-07-2010, 09:29 PM:

along the frame in a straight line they're might be two small open holes-one in each end of the frame - these be oil ports for the wicks that oils the bronze bearings.

My SLC/SLC-45 Reference consoles had these motors with the required 6 month oiling period.