Rag disappeared into my No. 4 — help!

One my my worst nightmares just happened. I was cleaning the ink drum of my No. 4 and carelessly let the rag slip with the drum rotating. I immediately switched off the power and hoped to see the rag on the shelf below the drum. But it is nowhere visible. I fear it may be tangled in the chain because I heard and felt a slight, soft “thunk” as the drum stopped rotating. The rag is a piece of thin flannel about 12″ × 8″. Maybe I deserve this for using old pajamas. Any suggestions?

Barbara

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Fritz Klinke
Admin
10 years ago

As a follow up, I was talking to Bill Berkuta yesterday and he said he was able to retrieve the errant rag from Barbara’s press on a recent visit. He removed the cover plate that covers the space in back of the ink drum and pulled the rag out with no difficulty.

Fritz Klinke
Admin
10 years ago

The original problem was a wimpy rag, so I suggest something substantial the next time, like a towel, or a real shop towel. A hefty rag will jam up such that it can be easily removed without having to have the fire department standing by. I think I read something about this in our Vandercook files–I’ll have to check. Good thing it wasn’t the cat.

Eric Holub
Editor
10 years ago

Another thing to try before burning is to see if you can grab an end of the rag and pull. Maybe long needlenose pliers, maybe a custom-made hook, but you want to see how much can be removed manually before burning. But in any case it isn’t much cloth, so it can’t get hot enough to do any damage to the press. Just don’t let the fire spread beyond.

Eric Holub
Editor
10 years ago

I’ll add that an essential diagnostic tool is the dental mirror (and the larger versions sold in hardware and auto supply stores). If you don’t have a straight line-of-sight, need to see around a corner, use a mirror, and don’t forget a bright flashlight. Modern LED lights are small and bright and cheap.
This could let you know what is happening around the drum gear.

Eric Holub
Editor
10 years ago

From the pictures, it clearly isn’t at the gearbox end of the chain. That leaves the cylinder end. Try to turn the cylinder or pull the chain against the normal direction of travel and see if it moves. If the rag is caught at both gear nips, you may need to remove the chain.
The chain has one removeable link, and if that is accessible the link can be removed and the chain loosened. If that link is inaccessible, maybe it would be easier to loosen the gearbox than the cylinder.
Sometimes it makes sense to just burn off a caught rag, but you have to see it first.

Paul Moxon, Moderator
Admin
10 years ago

If the rag is in the chain pass way of the bed casting, as Eric suspects, then it could be fished out without too much trouble.

I know of a recent incident, where the rag was wound around the drum sprocket on a No. 4. There’s not much leeway to walk the chain off on that end. Then, you may need to remove the drum. I seem to remember that you did this as part of your restoration. But if not, this is done by removing the bolts that past through the bed casting on both ends. But before doing so support the position of the drum (so it doesn’t fall unto the shelve)by blocking it underneath or using straps held from above. Then you can lower and angle the drum sprocket off the chain. It’s less daunting that it seems. Two people can do it.

See this earlier post, with a Vandercook blueprint of the drum and link to a flickr set where an engine hoist was used on a No. 4 old style to lift it up. I don’t think that’s necessary for your later model.
https://vandercookpress.info/vanderblog/2011/05/vandercook-no-4-oldstyle-ink-drum-issue/#comments

Eric Holub
Editor
10 years ago

If the drip tray is present under the drum it may have dropped there. The tray is held in place by four screws, easily removed.
More likely, it might have been pulled toward the gearbox, and I remember vaguely a sheet metal housing around that, also easily removed, to see if that is the case.
With the power off, it should not be hard to pull the chain backwards to free the rag if it is pulled into the gear nip.

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