I recently acquired a Vandercook SP-20 in great need of restoration. I’ll be tackling this project over the coming months and will be posting progress and questions as I go along. Luckily, I have most of the major parts! I decided to start with some low-hanging fruit: check to see if the motor had any […]
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SP-15 roller adjustment
We can’t get the back form roller on the SP-15 to lower on the gear side only–it can’t go lower than a narrow sliver (less than 1/16″) on the roller setting gauge, no matter how much you turn the knob. We can adjust this back roller’s height on the operator side, and the front roller […]
MoreMore TagSP15 form roller (the one on the right) is moving, getting chewed up a little
I am not able to secure the form roller. The screws at both ends loosen and it moves. As it does a small portion is chewed up in the gear track. How do I fix that? I have a video, but I am not sure how to send it to you.
MoreMore TagVandercook SP15, lowering gear side of rear form roller
The gear side of the rear roller on our SP15 will not lower enough to hit a roller-setting gauge. It does have a range of motion, just will not descend low enough to contact the gauge on the gear side. The roller measures about 1/8″ less than 2 1/2″ in diameter. The tip diameter of […]
MoreMore TagSP 20 Trip Assembly misaligned on one side
Hi all, I’m the new caretaker of an SP 20 (serial 23442). I’ve been investigating a carriage jam issue and have found that the trip assembly on the non-operator side of the carriage (X-21755) is sitting much lower than on the operator side. Because of this, the rogue trip arm has been scraping against the […]
MoreMore TagSP15 issue – uneven inking along length of bed
Not sure why I always run into issues when on deadlines… Having an issue where I get an impression but there just isn’t any ink on the form and would love to hear any thoughts on what the problem/solution might be. The uneven inking is happening for the length of the press bed. Was printing […]
MoreMore TagSpare SP20 parts?
I found these two pieces in a small box of miscellaneous odds and ends. Does anyone happen to know if they are for the SP20, paper guides perhaps? Thanks.
MoreMore TagSp-15, foot pedal on paper gripper
My Vandercook sp-15 has developed a weird quirk with the connection between the paper grippers and the foot pedal used to activate the grippers. When I step on the pedal, I have to press down harder that I used to in order to get the grippers to raise, and there is a loud metal kind […]
MoreMore TagSP-15 Squeal
Got a bad squeal on the SP-15. Can’t figure out where the noise is coming from. Suspect that the back roller core is defective and the bearer is not holding it correctly. I think we need a new roller/core. Anyway, in printing the oscillating roller squeals badly. Just started doing this today. Any thoughts? Thanks.
MoreMore TagSP25 ink drum “bouncing”
The ink drum on my SP25 has started bouncing up and down at one end as soon as any slight pressure is applied, like when I lower the form rollers or when I wipe off the ink while the drum is turning. I can’t see any visible irregularities in the chain links or any of […]
MoreMore TagVandercook SP-20 / SP-25 Inking System Improvement From NA Graphics
New IMPROVED Form Roller Block Kit for the SP-20 / SP-25 inking system. Fritz of NA Graphics has designed and had manufactured NEW SOLID Form Roller Supports and Bearing Block Assemblies for the SP-20 and SP-25 Vandercook’s. On the fourth of July 2019 Dave and Beth Seat installed the first of these NEW inking system […]
MoreMore TagSP-15 carriage reassembly problem
Removed carriage to safeguard for moving. Now putting it back onto the bed. Forgot to mark the gear for proper line up, but I’ve done this before a couple of times, resolved that issue by trial and error. The main problem, and I don’t recall how I resolved it in the past: the nylon wheel […]
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