i am working on a vandercook 4 serial nr. 15900 that i bought a couple of weeks ago. when inspectiong the press i realized that there is a strange thing inside the cylinder on the operator side. see pictures. the other other thing was next to rust a broken pin on the […]
MoreSP-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 […]
MoreSP15 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.
MoreNewly Discovered Vandercook Portraits
Recently, I acquired some Vandercook materials that had belonged to David Dodge Vandercook (1901–1975), who was Vice President of Engineering and Board Secretary for Vandercook & Sons. He was the second son of company founder Robert O. Vandercook (1866–1951). The company frequently used the portrait of R.O. Vandercook (above left) in promotional literature, but apparently, […]
MoreAdjusting roller height on model 4
On my Model 4 I sometimes have to print type that is higher than .918 inches. This means setting the rollers higher, and I do it somewhat by trial and error. But I would like to know precisely: how much of a clockwise turn of the adjusting screws gives say .05 inches or 1 mm? […]
Morewhen the Vandercook 4 is a knockin….
Hello! I’ve been having a problem on and off for the last few months where the top carriage, when rollers are engaged there is a fast knocking noise emanating from what seems to be the large oscillating roller. if i lift them ever so slightly or push them back it goes away but only temporarily. […]
MoreHS-27 Clutch – Brake Unit
Hi Everyone, Our HS-27 has been acting up for a while now. Even before I started 13 years ago, a piece of mylar was used in between the brake and slip ring. Now the assembly isn’t engaging when the foot pedal is pressed down. Everything in line leading up to the assembly appears to be […]
MoreVandercook 425 ink fountain missing part?
I’ve been running a Vandercook 425 for a little under a year and am finding that I would really like to get the ink fountain working. However, I think I’m missing a part. The 425 Manual that I have (thank you Paul!) shows an ink fountain system that looks very different from mine, so I […]
MoreKnurl Pin Sheered Off
After cleaning up my new Universal III I was still having trouble getting the grippers to open at the end of the bed. After hunting around this blog, I discovered a post that indicates that the knurl pin is the problem. You had posted a very helpful diagram! (below) Anyway, the top is broken […]
MoreVandercook 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 […]
MoreUniversal I stopping when in print, but not in trip
Hi All, I just pulled an old Universal I out from the corner to see what issues there may be. When in Trip the carriage rolls all the way down the bed fine. When I put it in Print, the Press stops when the cam follower hits the trip wedge. There is a bit of […]
MoreVandercook 4, pulley set screw won’t stay tight
The top wheel of the motor assembly pulley on my Vandercook 4 (#12545) keeps loosening. The set screw tightens, but loosens after the motor runs for a bit. The wheel and the belt move on the post toward the operator, away from the motor. This is a recurring problem, but every once in a while […]
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