Howdy. I trust you and yours are well. I recently did some electrical work (thank you Fritz, Daniel, Paul, Steve, John, and Max) on my Universal and I am replacing the Control Station panel. Would anyone like one while I am at it? This will be a laser-engraved, silver substrate revealing a black core to […]
MoreCategory: Power Carriage
Uni 1 carriage bounce on return trip
Lately the powered carriage on our Uni 1 has a tendency to return fully and then bounce off the stops, rolling forward again about an inch. This is frequently far enough to prevent the inking system from being properly driven by the main ink roller (cylinder?). It’s easy enough (albeit annoying) to manually pull the […]
MoreLooking for a set of gripper bar extensions for a Uni III
Recently acquired a tape tower for my Uni III but didn’t realize my press doesn’t have the little cylindrical gripper bar extensions that thew tape tower bar clicks into. Anyone happen to have a spare set (I know, needle in a haystack but can’t hurt to ask). Photos showing the extensions on one of my […]
MoreUniversal I Power: Question about Manual/Cycle controls
My Universal I Power Test Press is having trouble with its manual/cycle controls. It only works in “manual” mode, so I can only move the carriage using the reverse/off/forward lever. If I move the selector switch to “cycle” and press the start button, nothing happens. The photo shows the controls on my press. The manual/cycle switch […]
MoreClutch Drive Adjustment Instructions Position
I have a powered Uni-I, and my Clutch Drive Adjustment instruction plaque has come off, can someone tell me which way it should be mounted on the drive side cover? Should it be right side up when on the operator side, or on the drive side?
MoreUniversal 3 electrical issue
Looking for advice on an issue that just came up on my Universal III. In my infinite wisdom I decided to swap out the beat up faceplate on the controls with a replacement that I had. While disconnecting the on/off switch, some of the connections became loose and one completely came off. I was told […]
MoreCarriage hesitation on Uni III
Over the past month or so, the carriage on our Uni III has developed some hesitation from when you hit the green cycle button and when it actually begins moving down the bed. This morning it finally just stopped cycling, or at least it would do a couple cycles and then stop at the control end. […]
MoreRe-assembly and conversion (to manual) of Universal II (power carriage)
Hello printers, An alumnus has just donated a Vandercook to our university; after saying, “sure, we could use another”, I learned that it is a Universal II power carriage w/ adjustable bed and that owing to the weight of the press, moving it from its former home (the second story of a barn) required dissassembly. […]
MoreUniversal III power carriage motor adaptation
Hello: Almost 3 years ago I wrote with some questions regarding the motorization of a Universal III I had acquired without the motor. Paul and others had thoughts to share on the matter, (much thanks for this input to all involved), but it was apparent that this would not be an easy task to accomplish. […]
MoreUni III Carriage slam
Ive had my Universal III for almost a year now and have been running some large editions on it. 99.9% of the time she runs perfectly, but occasionally upon returning to the feed table the carriage will slam home with a startling amount of force. Im talking once out of a few hundred cycles and […]
MoreAutomatic carriage stuck in print mode
Good Evening! I have recently come into possession of a Universal I Power Test Press with automatic cycling abilities. This is the first automatic cylinder press I’ve had experience with and I am finding there are some things I do not understand. When the cycle mode is on, the press does not go into “trip” […]
MorePage For Power Carriage Parts Added
From a suggestion by A.J. Masthay and a list provided by Daniel Morris, I’ve begun to compile a data table of replacement parts and their sources for Vandercook power carriage presses. All owners and operators of power carriage presses—including other brands are invited to add information. This table can be found under the maintenance menu at top […]
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