I have a early model Universal I Power that I have recently purchased. When running the automatic carriage it has a tendency to slam into the end of the run and upon returning to the feed board slamming into that. I have adjusted the speed and the brake using the dials on the operators side, but think I need to adjust the cams (is this the correct term) on the other side.
Question is, how in the world do I do this? Is there a way that Vandercook suggest to get the most middle of the road action? I have pictures of how all four are set up and each cam.
Please note: one of the previous owner in their amazing wisdom decided to spray paint this press a disgusting dark grey and when they replaced some of the the labels on the cams they did some upside down.
Thank you Paul and Daniel for your suggestions and help. Wanted to update you all on the progress as it has been a while.
I went to a machine shop who actually took that small part and rethreaded it and got a new nut to match. Then it was now able to lock the arm back in the limit switch. So with that functional I just need to start printing. And print I did. After running a few posters (11×14 size) and was not at all happy with the outcome. I am used to running a hand press and honestly was not happy with the impression of the piece. Most of my work goes a touch beyond a “kiss” impression but not by much to prevent damage to the press. I am sure there might be someone out there who would love it more than me. So I am thinking I would like to sell the press. I guess I am not really power press kind of printer. I will stick to my hand press Universal III and my Heidelberg…
Hey Chris,
Your press has two styles of switches, while my Universal IIIs only have four identical units. They are still available NOS on eBay. Do a search for BZE6 2RN2. If the parts you need are for the Allen Bradley units you may also be able to find them by searching there.
DGM
You may be able to clean up the screw with a thread cutting die. Once you know the diameter then you can figure out the thread pitch (per inch): it’s either fine or coarse. Individual dies are $4-6 each.
Thank you Paul for your help and clarification. I have had sometime to tinker with it this and have adjusted it to the point where it now does not slam into the end of the press but rather continuously slamming into the feed board. After spending hours adjusting the appropriate limit switch per the manual’s instructions, I think I figured out this problem, but only to create yet another problem.
I found that the arm with the wheel is attached to the pivot that allows the switch to actually stop the traveling of the carriage, was loose and after adjusting and adjusting I found that the pin that locks down the arm’s position’s thread is stripped in one spot and will not completely lock down. So I am emailing Fritz right now to see if there is any chance I can get this part ordered as it is pretty specialized. See pics attached. Any advice would help!
It appears that you’re confusing the limit switches (the fixed electrical boxes with the protruding arm and wheel) with the limit switch cams (the rails that hangs below the carriage and which slide over the wheels of the limit switches). Adjustment of the limit switch cams, described in the manual, is excerpted below:
You may also want to review mechanical terms by looking at our Glossary.