Arri SR mag footage counter

[John Salim]

Hello all,

Both of my ( standard SR II ) magazines footage counters have never worked .... the 'actual' counter on the side, not the take off 'remaining' counter.

 

I recently shot a short film having to use 100ft spools...... it was difficult to gauge the roll's end. :(

 

Has anyone ever fixed one ..... is it easy to do without risk of damage ? ( i'm fairly competent technically ).

 

 

Many thanks,

John S

[Kirk lee]

Hello. I know this is a 10-year-old post, but I'm writing this because I have a question of my own.

My question is about the operation of the small counter on the top front side, rather than the large counter on the back of the magazine. Does this small counter work even when there is no film loaded, or when using a 100ft film?

Since the rear counter can't be used with 100ft film, I am planning to rely on this smaller counter. From what I can tell, it doesn't seem to move when there is no film. I'm just curious if it is supposed to operate even when it's empty.

[Dom Jaeger]

Those counters are turned by a spring belt connected to the drive gear main shaft, next to the take-up sprocket.

They should turn whether film is loaded or not. The dial can be reset to zero.  But in many cases the mechanism is seized.

It's possible to service them back to working condition, but it's rather fiddly, and the slightest resistance in the mechanism makes the belt slip. Not what I would call an easy DIY job.