P66e / p66a focus jammed?

[1kgcoffee]

Trying to use this projector for the first time. It seems the focus makes a sound going back and forth, but it's won't actually move the lens? Anyone have similar experiences with this projector?

Also, how do I pop out the lens or dim it? There seems to be no manual

Edit to add. I've somehow broken the automatic advance.

Thanks in Advance,
1kgcoffee

 

[AgX]

Typically with projectors one pre-focus them by twisting the lens and does the fine tuning during projection by means of remote-controlled focusing or the autofocus.

With your series however any focusing and even changing of the lens is done by motorised focusing (button on projector rsp. at remote control).

The model P 66S has an electrical dimmer for the lamp by means of slider-control. The model P 66A has not.
No Rollei lens has an aperture to dim the lens.

 

[John Koehrer]

Not with the P66 but with all the Kodaks there's a gear drive from motor to lens and the gear on the lens will sometimes
loosen on the motor shaft. The Kodak lenses use straight gears but the P66 may have helical gearing.

Doesn't help much but if you can see the gears it may help a bit. FWIW Kodaks are serviced through the bottom.

 

[AgX]

. The Kodak lenses use straight gears but the P66 may have helical gearing.

Neither. The barrel of the P66 lenses is a plain tube.

 

[John Koehrer]

Thanks AGX, I found a picture online that shows one of their lenses with a
roller on the front and smooth lens tube that again, suggests a friction drive.
If there's a drive roller in the projector and the rubber has worn or broken I've no idea what would cause the noise.

For myself, partial taken' apart stuff may let you see what's going on. Do you have a friend that's involved in repairing small devices
that could do it?
A small appliance repair shop may be able to help but if it needs parts.........

 

[AgX]

The barrel is a plain tube. The projector has a diabolo shaped friction drive.

I got no idea why the chose this approach.

 

[1kgcoffee]

Thanks to all for the responses.

Good news about the Lens barrel. It just needed a little more pushing. This unit must not have been used for a long time to have seized up like that. It can be manually focused by pushing and pulling but not fine adjusted as you pointed out Agx. I believe that the little electric motor that sits underneath the lens is toast and will need to be repaired or replaced. It makes a sound like it wants to go and turns the little plastic gear a hair before stopping. A closer look at the gears:

The little clear plastic gear is the one that appears to move just a tiny bit. Now, moving them by hand works and the gears move together perfectly, so they are not seized. Must be the motor or the connection to the motor if I can disassemble further.

Could also have something to do with the board, which brings me to the second problem. The automatic slide changer.

I think at one point when first playing with the projector, I went to put the top metal housing back down over the internals and touched the circuit board with it. A quick flash appeared. Did I fry a capacitor or burn a fuse or something? The board is a tp-fem rollei board. Fairly primitive looking. I am no electronics person but may be able to repair it if it's a simple component. I also forced the advance back out to remove a stuck slide. Underneath the tray slot there appears to be no gears, only wires going to the buttons. And unfortunately I wouldn't be able to access this without completely gutting the unit. There is no access from underneath the unit either. Here's a closer look at the internals of the machine:

For myself, partial taken' apart stuff may let you see what's going on. Do you have a friend that's involved in repairing small devices
that could do it?
A small appliance repair shop may be able to help but if it needs parts.........

I think this may be a learning opportunity as none of my friends are any more familiar than me. It seems simple enough to work on although it would be easier to understand with a schematic. As for a repair shop I know of the perfect place nearby but the cost of repair could well be more than the cost of purchasing another unit

 

[John Koehrer]

Is that brown stuff thickened grease on the end of the end of the motor?
If so, clean it with rubbing alcohol on a cotton bud even more important, the geared end
and gear pivots too. Using a very thin oil(clock or sewing machine) oil put a bit on each pivot.

If you have a sewing needle dip the end with the eye into the oil and touch the area you to want oil.
IT DOESN'T NEED MUCH!

 

[AgX]

Thank you for those pictures. They are much more informative than the one I got.
So there are two "diabolos" and they are not intended to move the barrel, as I stated above, but only to hold it, together with a plain friction drum, and to guide it.