A few weeks ago I put a print on and didn't notice the ring had tightened all the way up. There was no way to get the ring out and it was time to thread the machine for the main show. We ended up pounding the ring pins up from underneath the platter with a hammer, then slid the print toward the edge of the platter and ever so carefully used the claw end of the hammer to pry the ring out from the film. We then slid the film back toward the center. It wasn't pretty by any means. But we did not damage the film, the ring, or the platter.
A couple years ago it was happening at the other theatre, but I can't remember why or what made it stop. But I remember sticking a pencil in the gap and making up the platter. It tightened up and the pencil wouldn't come out! Think I had to use a hammer and a screwdriver to beat the pencil out of there.
I have a much larger ring. It has a clasp on the top where you clasp the hasp-like thing to keep the ring open. When it is time to take the ring out you undo the clasp and squeeze it together. I works great. I think I will have my son modify a couple regular rings to do the same.
But in the meantime I'd really like to solve the problem the correct way. I can't see where the brake is affecting the make-up table, but I suspect that may be part of the problem.
When the make-up table is in the tear down mode, sometimes the shank will spin inside the table and not move the reel. It makes a loud noise while doing this. I have tightened the long set screw to the point where I broke one and had to replace it. That doesn't really help. Any suggestions?