BELL & HOWELL DUAL-8 NEW RUBBER FEED TIRE FOR AUTOLOAD!

Many Bell & Howell 456 series* dual-8 projectors have a rubber feed tire that has turned to dripping goo from oil, hot storage, or something, and may also have been removed by a previous owner. (They may even have wrapped hundreds of turns of Scotch tape around the hub, or pushed on a wrong-size garden hose washer, as an attempted substitute, which will NOT work!!!) Without a correct rubber part that is the right diameter and right width, the Autoload automatic threading will not function, and it must be threaded manually which is slow and awkward.

The solution is to buy one of our replacement rubber tires. These are made out of modern abrasion and (200 degree F) temperature resistant SBR black synthetic rubber and are almost exactly the same 7/8" diameter and 5/16" wide size as the original. This excellent material has limited resistance to oil however so keep oil off it. There are normally no oily parts adjacent to it.

*Included models are, I think: 456 458 466 471 476 477 481 and 487.

The original tire is overmolded on to the metal shaft hub, and the replacement is a snug friction fit that should stay in place after you scrape off any remaining bits of the original decomposed rubber part.

If the goo has dripped down on to the lens area and re-hardened, you may need to also scrape it off, so the lens will zoom and focus again.

NOTE: You gain access to the rubber tire location by swinging the film gate open as if to clean the aperture. You DO NOT need to remove the tire's hub and shaft assembly from the projector to do the repair, it is just shown removed for clarity, with the new tire installed. There are two extra views of the rubber tire, but this auction is for one part.

Once the rubber drive tire is replaced, the projector Autoload function will work again per the following instructions:

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Place the full film reel on the Supply (right-hand) reel spindle. Ensure that the film leader is flat or has a gentle natural curl and the end has been trimmed. The film’s perforations should be towards you, with the end hanging on the right.

Ensure the format selector lever is correctly set for the film format. If you have a couple of films to compare, Regular-8 has the larger sprocket holes on the film edge and Super-8 has the smaller sprocket holes.

Start the projector running forward.

Move the Film Threading Lever  fully downwards in the large arc shown, and feed the beginning of the film leader between the two metal guide rollers ‚ until the rubber feed roller pulls film from the supply reel.

Allow about six inches (15 cm) of the film leader to enter, or until you hear the clicking of the pulldown claw engaging the film. This should take two seconds at 18 FPS.

Then release the Film Threading Lever gently to its original position. The film will now naturally pass by the left side of the attached roller, to give additional vibration-absorbing action.

NOTE: Failure to release the Lever as soon as the clicking is heard may cause a film jam.

When the film leader emerges, it may attach automatically if you have an auto-thread take-up reel. If not, lead it towards the take-up reel. Let the leader extend about a foot (30 cm) past the reel. Stop the projector. Attach the leader to the hub of the reel, and turn the reel clockwise a couple of turns. You are now ready to show the film.

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The above instructions are adapted from the instruction manuals for Tobin Cinema Systems Dual-8 telecine machines.

I may also have replacement lenses, reel spindles, lamps etc. available in various categories. Click on "view seller's other items" to find them. Thanks for looking.