Hello All, I’m working on cleaning up an SP15 that hasn’t been touched in maybe 30 years. I have all the rollers lubricated and in their right places (as far as I can tell) but when rolling the carriage down the press bed, the rider roller isn’t moving. It almost seems as though it’s a […]
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Rollers stop spinning
Hello, we have an SP-15 used by college students in a typography studio. A problem occurs with the rollers when you move the carriage over the the bed. To start the rollers ink up fine and evenly, but as you begin to turn the carriage handle all of the rollers suddenly stop spinning. They seem to […]
MoreSP-15 Ink Drum Squeak Problem
Hello, I am hoping someone will have an idea of why my press has developed an extremely loud, shrill squeak that is emanating from the ink drum/vibrator assembly. The noise occurs each time the drum [oscillator] travels away from the operator’s side of the press, primarily when the rollers are engaged at feedboard position. The […]
MoreSP-15 Trip/Print blocked
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 […]
MoreSP-15 Form Roller Imbalance
Hello Vanderfriends, Would love some to get some thoughts on a roller issue. First I should mention that I am working with new rollers and a press that is new to me so I unfortunately don’t have a frame of reference for past performance. I’m experiencing an imbalance with noticeably heavier ink coverage on one […]
MoreSP20 Oil Holes
I’m happy to say that I recently purchased my first vandercook SP20. I’ve worked on another vandercook but did not maintained it. This site has been extremely helpful with almost all the information I need, however I can not find the oil holes. Does anyone know how many oil holes are on this model and […]
MoreSP15 grippers and trip lever issue
Hello. I have a lovely little SP15 and this is my first mechanical issue I’ve experienced thus far. I hope someone can help me solve it… Yesterday, my grippers stopped working. In looking at the manual and the press, I see the gripper cams are not lined up with the gripper screws. I am not […]
MoreSP15 Bed Plate Specs
Hello Vanderkin- I am a new owner of an SP15 and need a bed plate for the press which has a galley height bed. I’ve been lurking around here for a little while and see that I need a plate made from cold rolled steel with a thickness of .050″. Should I order the plate […]
Moreretaining screw problem for my sp15 cores
I recently had my second set of cores recast. In switching out the hardware I cannot for the life of me get the retaining screw to grab and screw in to the new core. I have tried solvents, wd40, a wire brush, an awl and curses, but to no avail. I’ve tried all 4 ends […]
MoreSP-15 slipping tympan issue?
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 […]
MoreSP 20 handle problem
I am trying to figure out how to tighten the action on the CM-37 handle of the inking system. This press has always had problems with uneven inking and after eliminating trip mechanism issues and replacing glazed rollers, ink distribution on the form is still occasionally lighter on the operating side. I think it has […]
MoreMy first SP-15…
Hello, fellow printers. After years of searching for an SP-15, I’ve finally acquired one from Kurt Hansen in Auburn, California. It has been sitting for some time, however, and needs some service before it’s ready to roll. Though I am familiar with the operation of the press, I am not trained in how to restore […]
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