Hitachi TX100 dust blob guide

*cyberheater* · 23-11-2005, 11:17 PM

Right lads.

I've just managed to remove some really annoying dust blobs from my project and the image looks a lot clearer to boot.

I'll post the guide and piccies tomorrow cause it's getting late now and I need my beauty sleep

Warning now. This will not be for the faint hearted. It requires removal of the main circuit board and lens assembly block.

My PJ is out of warranty so I took the risk.

*cyberheater* · 24-11-2005, 12:44 PM

Okay. This is a warning. Don't attempt this unless you feel that your fairly competent with electrical stuff and have a good record of taken stuff apart and putting it back together in one piece. Although nothing in this guide is technical par se, there are a lot of fiddly interconnects that need to be removed and replaced accurately.

Normal safety precautions should be taken and the PJ mains cable should be removed and the bulb allowed to cool.

You'll need 1 can of clean compressed air (with tube). 1 philips screw driver. And patience (about a hour).

I wish you luck.

Set up a well lit area clear of stuff to allow you to work. I also tend to set aside small cups to keep all the screws that you remove.

Here the is the beast with it's cloths on.

Remove the bulb, remove all the screws from the bottom (4 normal black screws and 1 long silver one) and the two top screws from the rear of the unit.
Carefully remove the top shell. This is tricky and can take a while. Just be careful.

You need to remove the circuit board now. This is not for timid. Carefully remove all the edge connectors and the three ribbon cables that come up from the bottom of the board. These are held in by a pressure grip connector. Just slide the black tabs back the ribbon cables will come free.
There is also a connector (power?) on the bottom of the board that you need to be aware of. Remove the screws holding the board on. Also remove the remaining screws on the back of the unit where the connectors are as the video connector panel and board are one piece. Lift the board/video connector panel and remove the power connector on the bottom of the board.

You'll find some plastic poppers on the top black cover. Carefully remove those and lift the top cover off exposing the lcd panels and colour filters.

Now remove the 2 screws that hold the projector lens assembly in place. You also need to remove the 2 screws that hold a lens shroud cover near the front of the lens.
You should now be able to remove the complete lens/lcd panel assembly.

Give everything a good squirt with your can of compressed air.

And reassemble as quickly as possible to prevent dust contamination.

wandgrudd · 24-11-2005, 1:04 PM

A+++++++++++++

well done must save this for the future.

wandgrudd

PJTX100 · 24-11-2005, 1:35 PM

I'm naked!!

Hero.

PJTX100 · 24-11-2005, 1:39 PM

I'm presuming removing the bulb didn't give any improved access to the optics?...PJ

Kopite4Ever · 24-11-2005, 1:56 PM

brave

very brave, here's hoping i dont get any dust blobs ever

*cyberheater* · 24-11-2005, 2:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJTX100

I'm presuming removing the bulb didn't give any improved access to the optics?...PJ

No. It's seems pretty sealed from that end.

In fact. The whole thing is pretty well sealed. It's a mystery how the dust got in there in the first place.
Let's hope I never have to do that again.

Kopite4Ever · 29-12-2005, 5:14 PM

ive been trying to get the case off mine for like an hour, i think those pics are fabricated it just is not possible

seriously whats the trick to it before i get out the hammer

PJTX100 · 29-12-2005, 5:45 PM

Ply it with drink and whisper sweet nothings.

Kopite4Ever · 29-12-2005, 5:51 PM

if i wernt so stressed atm id laugh

*cyberheater* · 29-12-2005, 5:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kopite4Ever

ive been trying to get the case off mine for like an hour, i think those pics are fabricated it just is not possible

seriously whats the trick to it before i get out the hammer

Make sure all screws are out and then you need to sort of unclip the front bit under the lens.

whats_this · 29-12-2005, 5:57 PM

cyberheater your inbox is full, been trying to get hold of you to find out about your success with the filter. any updates?

Kopite4Ever · 29-12-2005, 6:10 PM

ive done it with assistance from uncle....what aload of hassle it wasnt easy

*cyberheater* · 29-12-2005, 6:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whats_this

cyberheater your inbox is full, been trying to get hold of you to find out about your success with the filter. any updates?

Yes mate. I've updated the thread.

Sorry guys for not getting back sooner. Something to do with me being busy with a 1 week old baby

whats_this · 02-01-2006, 3:46 PM

congratulations mate (and good luck).

*cyberheater* · 02-01-2006, 4:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whats_this

congratulations mate (and good luck).

Thanks mate

*cyberheater* · 04-01-2006, 8:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kopite4Ever

ive done it with assistance from uncle....what aload of hassle it wasnt easy

How did you get on?

Kopite4Ever · 04-01-2006, 9:04 PM

i wasnt cleaning dust blobs mate, what had happened was the lens shift mechanism had fell off its pully. instead of sending it all the way back for a 5 day turn around i just took the case off and put it back onto the mechanism. hard part was getting the friggin case off

*cyberheater* · 04-01-2006, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kopite4Ever

i wasnt cleaning dust blobs mate, what had happened was the lens shift mechanism had fell off its pully. instead of sending it all the way back for a 5 day turn around i just took the case off and put it back onto the mechanism. hard part was getting the friggin case off

Same thing happened to mine when it was delivered from one of the forum members.
The case is a bugger but there is a knack

flamie · 18-02-2006, 9:26 PM

I've got a PJ-TX10 with no guarantee left, do you think this guide will work with the pj-tx10 too??

I don't like the idea of opening it if don't have to.

TIA
Bjorn

*cyberheater* · 18-02-2006, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamie

I've got a PJ-TX10 with no guarantee left, do you think this guide will work with the pj-tx10 too??

I don't like the idea of opening it if don't have to.

TIA
Bjorn

The TX10 is a different beast so this apply but i'm sure it's going to be reasonably easy to open up and clean it. Just take your time and be carefull.

austinseven · 08-04-2006, 1:39 PM

Bought my TX100 about 18 months ago - and very pleased with it. Even used it at the village hall to an audience of over 100 projecting onto 12 x 9 foot screen. Now clocked up nearly 800 hours and noticed falling off of image, partic on right side - focus blurred and a pink caste. Reasoned this probably due to dust. Hitachi said Phone Servicecare - I did and they wanted £100 just to look at it! and more for any work!
And then I discovered AV Forum and the brilliant treatise by Professor Cyberheater!
Took it all apart and gave it a jolly good clean - loads of fine dust on everything - now working as good as new.Thank you so much Guvnor !
The annoying thing is I persuaded myself that I ought to get a new THREE PANEL TX200 as trumpeted in one of the mags. Got one within four days from France via Pixmania. And it worked really well straight out of the box. but only a smallish improvement on the old one. Fortunately I have a buyer for the TX100. You can imagine how peaved I was to find THREE PANELS had been hiding all the time in the TX100 !
By the way the Cine4Home Revue of the TX200 is very interesting - but dont just click on the Print Button - Its 46 pages long. I've now got to get some more ink cartridges !

PJTX100 · 08-04-2006, 5:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austinseven

but only a smallish improvement on the old one.

Sorry to hear that, if you'd read my earlier comparison I said exactly the same. If buying fresh the TX200 was worth the extra, but not worth paying extra to upgrade from the TX100.

wandgrudd · 23-01-2007, 11:35 PM

Just want to bring this topic back from the dead.

Today I under took the task of giving my now aging PJTX100 its first proper service which basically involved getting rid of the dust blobs that have been annoying me for the last 6 months. Which thanks to cyberheater’s guide was a complete success,
Don’t think I would have even attempted it if I did not have something to guide me though the process.

Tell you what thought nearly jumped out of my skin when I turned it on and it flashed with light and the knocked the power of to the whole house (tripped the RCD)my hart sank as I thought I must have messed up. But turned out it was the dvd player must have a hell of a fault to trip the RCD (not been used since October) but at least my projector is alright.

And thanks again to cyberheater

projector as good as new

Oppo OPDV971H dvd not so good

*cyberheater* · 29-01-2007, 9:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wandgrudd

Just want to bring this topic back from the dead.

Today I under took the task of giving my now aging PJTX100 its first proper service which basically involved getting rid of the dust blobs that have been annoying me for the last 6 months. Which thanks to cyberheater’s guide was a complete success,
Don’t think I would have even attempted it if I did not have something to guide me though the process.

Tell you what thought nearly jumped out of my skin when I turned it on and it flashed with light and the knocked the power of to the whole house (tripped the RCD)my hart sank as I thought I must have messed up. But turned out it was the dvd player must have a hell of a fault to trip the RCD (not been used since October) but at least my projector is alright.

And thanks again to cyberheater

projector as good as new

Oppo OPDV971H dvd not so good

I'm glad you got it sorted mate

cliocarl · 06-02-2007, 6:48 PM

on the last picture showing the lense assembly those orangey browny ribbon cable things - do those have to be detached? is that part fiddley?

wandgrudd · 06-02-2007, 8:12 PM

no they don't have to come of if you are going by the last picture. the have to be taken of the pcb see picture 3 but they don't need to come of any more than you see in the last picture

cliocarl · 08-02-2007, 11:29 PM

This guide was quality!

I thought I had stumbled finding one of the four black screws on the base but it was hidden away next to the lamp house.

I did it with the help of a friend. I would say the hardest part was feeding the ribbon cables back through the foam, as my fingers aint the thinest!

Put it all back together and its like new!
2 years, 2000 lamp hours, original bulb, am now looking forward to sky HD next week!

Thanks again cyber, good show!

AndyNorthStand · 16-06-2008, 10:39 AM

Hi

I bought one of these second hand and it has a few dozen small dots on the right hand side of the screen, they are out of focus when the image is in focus, but if you turn the focusing ring on the lens to make the picture out of focus - they become more in focus - if you see what i mean.

There are also in the smae place 2 hexagonal shapes with a slight green cast.

I presume this is some dust inside the optics / panels etc ?

If anyone has any ideas what else they could be please let me know.

After reading this i think i will have a go at cleaning it, when you come to the part where you use the compressed air, is there anywhere not to blow ? where is the main places to blow wth the air ?

Cheers.

cliocarl · 16-06-2008, 12:57 PM

I used some of the compressed air cans that can be inverted too (from Maplin). Just blew over the panels, I think I saw the dust when the unit was apart.

Follow cyber's guide its fiddley but very managable with patience and time!

Let us know how you go on, just sounds like dust. I now have the dredded polarisation problem with mine so am going to have to research the market again now for another super buy, as I think Hitachi have pulled out of the PJ market.

Out of interest how much did u pay second hand?