We were able to kinda-sorta fix the SP 15 belt slipping by installing a new belt. Now there is a new issue: there is a knocking or clunking sound when all the rollers are in contact (the down position). We checked for things like a loose gear on the back form roller; it is ok. [...]

During our Open House yesterday, the belt on our older SP-15 slipped off the motor pulley. After the gig, we opened up the top and put the belt back on, but it looks like it may easily slip off again. This press has geared wheels at the motor and the drum roller, and the rubber [...]

On November 11, we installed the newly rewound motor into the SP-15. It is not as noisy as it was, but still noisier than our other press. Questions: 1. is there any way to dampen the noise? I was tempted to put some insulation in the chamber, but don’t want to cut down on heat [...]

Our newly acquired SP-15 has a very loud motor. Not sure if this is normal. We have a second SP-15 that is also loud, but not as bad as the newer one. I sometimes have to shout for my students to hear me. I received several suggestions to check/add oil, and we did that, but [...]

Last month, I posted a query about our SP-15 at UA Fort Smith, in which the trip eccentric release mechanism in the cylinder was crashing into the trip release button on the operator’s upon return to home.  (see the original post http://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2011/02/sp-15-carriage-problem/#comments). This has begun happening again, despite oiling the press every time we print [...]

The vibrator has been pausing and jumping, so last night I took it apart to see if anything was broken on the crescent or worm gear. Didn’t find any problems, but I cleaned everything and greased it thoroughly before reassembly. Tried it this morning with no ink and it still hesitates at some points in [...]

Our SP-15 (#22182) at UA Fort Smith is missing the nylon wiper (X-20758) that apparently cleans the rails on both sides of the press. Looks like these were replaced at some point with a couple of pieces of thin metal. The other day, on the non-operator side, these bits of metal shifted and on the [...]

We have recently begun having an intermittent problem with our SP-15. After printing, when the cylinder is returning to home position, it hits some obstruction about 12″ away from the feed board that causes a jolt and a significant bang. It doesn’t do this all the time (maybe 1 in every 4-5 print passes), and [...]

We’ve been working on cleaning up our  SP-15 in the new UAFS Letterpress Shop. I took the motor cover off to clean a large pile of old ink next to the drum roller. After putting everything back in place, now the Trip/Print lever is stuck in PRINT. Doesn’t matter if the cylinder is in home [...]

I’m teaching a workshop at Northern Kentucky University where they have an SP-15. It’s been many years since I have used this press. We’re having a problem with the tympan paper coming undone at the back. The ratchet that holds the tightening bar in place appears to me to be set backwards, at least it [...]

I have had a continuous problem with the Vandercook 215 form rollers dropping down too low due to the hex bolts working themselves loose. We tighten these by hand because with a wrench, they get too tight and the rollers won’t turn freely. Is this an indication that there is something wrong with the bearing [...]

I have had some inking issues today. Some passes were ok, while in other passes, inking of the type on the form was uneven. I noticed that the back ink roller, the one that hits the drum, was having trouble with its gear/clutch not aligning properly on most passes (see photo). The front roller gears [...]