Selecon Pacific lens tube clamp

[gyro_gearloose]

I’ve just got hold of a Selecon Pacific to play with during lockdown, and I’ve got a quick question. The clamp that holds the lens tube in doesn’t tighten up enough to stop the tube from rotating. Is this normal? I’ve looked at the parts diagram in the manual, and it doesn’t look like anything is missing.

[Edward- Z88]

Hello,

 

I used to have a few of these.

 

I seem to remember the lens tube clamp bolt would tighten plenty enough to hold in position, but with a firm twist the barrel could be rotated without loosening.

 

Edward

[gyro_gearloose]

Thanks for that.

 

Having had a better look at the manual and my fixture, I think I know what the problem is. The clamp is part 27 on the diagram on page 14 of the manual. If you compare it with an actual clamp, you can see that the real clamp has two little metal nubs near where the bolt passes through. These prevent the clamp from being over tightened, maybe to stop an over-enthusiastic lampie from cracking the plastic lens tube?

 

I could improve the clamping force on my lens tube by filing the nubs down a bit, buy I’ll leave it for now. In use it may not be a problem as it is, but it’s nice to know how to fix it if I needed to.

[david.elsbury]

The lens tube is designed to rotate to allow you to adjust the angle of shutter cuts or gobo. The l shaped bracket and bolt allows it to do this and not fall out.

[gyro_gearloose]

Yes, I know why the lens tube rotates. I was just surprised that you can’t lock it in position like you can on, for example, a Source Four.

[TomHoward]

We have big stock of them any thinking about it I don't think I usually loosen the clamp to rotate, just a firm twist. I can't say we've ever had a problem with the lens rotating unexpectedly either, as it's pretty well balanced there wouldn't really be a reason for it to as far as I can tell.

 

A lot of the smaller threaded parts (lens adjustment knobs, lens clamp) seem to be possible to strip with over-tightening as I'd say some of ours certainly go round and round, especially the lens adjustment knobs on the bottom.