Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Tight Christie Ultramittent

This is topic Tight Christie Ultramittent in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 10-24-2010, 10:48 PM:

I have a rebuilt Ultramittent that I have had in service for several months now and seems very tight. It was like this from the beginning and I thought it would loosen up some after use.It sounds and runs smooth, but I believe it may be causing the reversing gears to wear out faster. I've replaced them twice now do to excessive noisiness. Each time they started out sounding quiet, but over the course of a few weeks they are right back to sounding rough and no matter how I adjust them they just don't sound as smooth as when first put in. So, my question, is there anyway to loosen up the Ultramittent without completely opening it up? It is out of its 90 day warranty.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 10-25-2010, 10:07 AM:

Remember back when the Ultramittents had a "lifetime" warrany?? I still have a few of those advertising brochures. Louis

Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 10-25-2010, 10:33 AM:

I remember being told that by a few techs when I worked with Regal. Imagine my surprise when I did my first repair/exchange with Christie and received that $1400 invoice.

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 10-25-2010, 12:36 PM:

I guess Christie meant "lifetime" as in the lifetime of their film division. [Roll Eyes]

Did you get the rebuild direct from Christie? If so even though it is past 90 days I would firmly but politely "pressure" them into exchanging it again. (I would offer to pay for shipping both ways as well.) It would be good to also have on hand your projector manual (which IIRC mentions the lifetime Ultramittent warranty) to back you up. Since you mention the reversing gears chances are yours was an earlier machine when that lifetime warranty was offered.

Ask to speak to a supervisor if the person on the phone is not willing or able to help.

In general, my experiences with Christie have been they will stand behind their products, so I think a little phone time will get you another rebuild.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-25-2010, 01:53 PM:

The title of this thread sounds like a porn.

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 10-25-2010, 02:45 PM:

Beneath The Valley of the Ultramittents?

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 10-25-2010, 04:48 PM:

No, as in Christie. She's really tight.

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 10-25-2010, 04:52 PM:

But Wendy's is hot and juicy. [evil]

Posted by Randy Bowden (Member # 587) on 10-25-2010, 10:23 PM:

The Ultramittent will not loosen up beyond whatever drag you might encounter from the oil seals. A tight movement, as you described, will only get worse. Generally speaking, theare are three possilbe reasons for this. It's either the cam, star or mesh adjustment creating the tightness. You could try and tweak the mesh adjustment yourself, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you know what your doing.

A 90 day warranty is rather pathetic if you ask me. I hope Christie would be flexible on this, I know I would be. I'm just not a big fan of doing warranty work as a result of operator error. Shipping damage is aways a possibility as well, that can cause some serious tightness issues.

Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 10-25-2010, 10:25 PM:

LOL. You guys are crackin' me up. I did a repair/exchange with LIT. I plan to give them a call as soon as I can, but I was just curious if there was someway to loosen it up in in the field.

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 10-25-2010, 10:29 PM:

Ahhh, the plot thickens. LIT might do another swap out, but.....I'd ask them for a pro-rated RXO if they won't do it at no charge.

I do know that their Simplex and Century rebuilds are worlds better than Strong's. Never tried any of the Christies from them.

Posted by Eric Robinson (Member # 2966) on 10-25-2010, 11:52 PM:

quote: Tony Bandiera Jr
But Wendy's is hot and juicy.

Dude...that is funny. [Wink]

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 10-27-2010, 01:36 PM:

There was actually an ad campaign for the Wendy's Hamburger chain that had that as a tag line. [Big Grin]

And I'm sure you've seen the "In N' Out Burger" bumper stickers that if you trim them just right they read "in N' Out Urge" [sex]

Posted by Ian Parfrey (Member # 5122) on 11-02-2010, 01:06 AM:

It takes two hands to handle a whopper.