Hello! Just beginning my Vandercook journey and bringing a recently acquired No. 4 back (I hope!) to working, and I’ve been working on getting the trip/print mechanism to engage properly. The earlier posts on this issue have been incredibly helpful.
I think I’ve narrowed the problem down to the fact that the sheet metal bracket (I can’t find a part # for this piece) surrounding the trip/print assembly isn’t securing well to the press bed above — it appears the small flathead screws on mine were perhaps later additions, and aren’t doing the trick. When I press the handle down to trip, the whole mechanism rocks towards the operator side of the press, so there’s just no leverage overall.
Does anyone know the specific screws that should be used here? I see two of them on the sheet metal bracket (again, sorry I can’t seem to find this part #). Any help would be great!
What a great page as reference (thank you Paul), and, I’m looking forward to the rest of the book when it’s out! I’ll spend some time at that particular linkage, and at some point, I’ll probably just have to raise the bed to really address the MS-273 issue. Thanks again!
If the concern is merely shifting the lever into trip. See the image below from my forthcoming book. Note that The MS-67 Fulcrum bar must be parallel against the MS-138 Lift Handle so that the handle stays in place when shifted into “trip.” Tighten with 5/8″ wrench or socket on the nut and a ½” thin wrench on the bolt head. In the absence of a thin wrench, bend the sheet metal to attach the wrench or cut an access hole at the bolt head for a socket.
Paul, thank you so much! This is really helpful. I was able to pull things apart a bit further when I noticed the screw in mine didn’t match a 1/4-20 x 3/4. Turns out someone had put in Tee Nuts where the holes are, thus fitting a much smaller screw. Just not quite up to the task ultimately I guess …
Thankfully, if I just the pull the sheet metal towards me, then I can engage the trip. A bit like wiggling the key while pumping the gas I guess.
According to the drawing that was shared with me by NA Graphics, the screws for the MS-273 Lift Handle Bracket are ¼-20 × ¾”. The problem is that there is a hex nut on the other side of the sheet metal top that is almost impossible to hold in place when tightening the screws without separating the bed from the cabinet.
A note says that the part number was changed in 1950 to X-6995. The attached photo is of a 1953 No. 4. It shows only one nut on the top of the cabinet above where the Lift Handle Bracket is fastened. The point remains the same, these screws are difficult to tighten.