I’m having some issues with a print I’m working on today. It’s a long form (photopolymer) – approx 17” – that I’m running vertically. I’m using photopolymer on a solid wood base that’s shimmed with chipboard up to type high. Printing on Lettra 110 with black ink. The initial couple of lines are very heavy, […]
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SP-15 Gear Roller Grunt
One of our SP-15s makes a sort of grunting noise as it travels down the bed. I suspect it is the gear on the back form roller, but I cannot see any issue with it. The other SP-15 is silent during this travel, and this noise is new, so something seems to be out of […]
MoreSetting Impresion Bearings
Hello All, I’m having a grand old time trying to set the bearings on my Challenge 15mp and it’s been over two weeks of adjusting, proofing and re-adjusting. The main issue I’m finding is that my carriage shifts once the rear impression bearing comes in contact with the rail, causing the rollers to rise and […]
MoreMotors for SP-15s and maybe others
Before I begin, let me say: I do not need a motor and do not anticipate that I will need one anytime soon (or hope that I don’t). I am posting in hopes of inspiring some knowledgeable comments about replacement motors. In recent weeks, Katie Harper successfully replaced Sp15 motor. There was another post by […]
MoreSP-20 roller height problem
I’m having trouble with inconsistent roller height on my SP-20. I’ve set them to type high using my gauge. When I move the cylinder a few more inches down the bed, the rollers are now above height and no longer contact the gauge. When I roll it back towards the dead bar, the return to […]
MoreSP-15 Motor Gear Box Issue
One of our SP-15 motors (Vandercook # 22155) quit last week. It has been noisy (our other SP-15 is about as loud as a sewing machine) but lately the noise was worse, and then the motor just stopped, smelling burned. The motor refurbishing place (Evans) tells me that there is a seal in the gear […]
MoreSP15 Plastic Cover Hinge and Misc Parts
Hello everyone, New post again! So the first photo shows some misc parts I found on the bottom pits of my No.4, I would really like to know what these parts do, or where they go. I’ve confirmed that that pin is not in fact an MR-110 pin, I’ve compared them. The second two […]
MoreSP25 Carriage Misalignment
I am in the process of getting our SP25 up and running and the first order of business is realigning the cylinder carriage so that the grippers are at the “12 o’clock” position when at the feed board. Does anyone have any suggestions of the best way to adjust this? During a class with Paul […]
MoreWhat does this do?
Hello everyone, I’d like to know what this part does, the one that moves horizontally, and has a spring. I noticed that the small knob on the right “locks it” in place when it’s retracted, but does not unlock automatically. So.. my question is. Is something wrong with my SP15?
MoreGripper Assembly for SP-20
The foot pedal/gripper assembly on my recently acquired SP 20 is not functioning properly. The foot pedal seems to engage the gripper mechanism when manipulated by hand, but does not lower and return to its position as it should. Left to its own devices, it sits on the floor (see pic). Also, the rear assembly […]
MoreA novel solution to incorrect form roller diameter
I was recently trying to set the form (inking) roller height on an SP15 and found that I was unable to properly set the gear-driven one (nearer the impression drum). There was no way the back end (closer to the gear) could drop down far enough. I measured the rollers and found that, instead of […]
MoreNew form rollers causing slurring?
I recently had the form rollers on my SP-20 recovered and I’m having trouble getting a decent print out of them. The short version is that my printing is slurred. The detailed version is that, if printing a line of type that’s parallel to the gripper bar, the rollers will print heavy towards the top […]
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