Lately my Vandy 215 oscillator has a shudder as it travels back and forth. It actually seems to be stocking to the inked up rubber rollers below. I was able to stop the chatter by adding a small piece of lead between the metal roller assembly and the bearing block of the rubber rollers (see video and photo). I’m beginning to wonder if my motor may be at fault, if it perhaps doe not have enough power to keep the rollers from “sticking” to the rubber rollers, when they have ink on them. I have added a video with the sound, as well as a photo showing the “solution” which is not really a solution, as it affect even inking.
Use a degreaser
If it’s a brown stain, it may be from urethane rollers that melted once upon a time.
To polish the oscillator, riders, and drum, try Putz Pomade.
I was able to get the worm gear and crescent “rider’ removed for cleaning and inspection. Inspection showed no broken parts; all points were sharp as ever, except for the old point that i had machined many years ago. It was still in good shape. However, there was a lot of gunk on everything, so maybe a good cleaning will make it all work better. I did notice however, that some of the metal roller parts really need a deep cleaning, as there seems to be a stain film on them. What is best to use for cleaning the metal rollers? I tried acetone but it didn’t really do much. Thanks.
Oh, dear. The infamous worm gear… I have dealt with many of these in my day. Once had to have one of the sharp points re-sharpened by a machine shop. Not looking forward to taking apart out just to look, at it, as I recall it being a pain to put back…Your instructions make it sound easy…so maybe I’m not remembering it correctly.
As for form rollers, I measured those at 2.5 which was pretty true down the length of the roller (one end was 2.502). It did look like one end was slightly flared but not more than a mm or two, I’d guess.
But no point in replacing the rollers if the problem is the gear… will check. Maybe after Christmas…
Someone privately suggested that your crescent and/or worm gear might be damaged.
To inspect the crescent, spin the oscillator tube to cover the worm gear, loosen the setscrew on the end of the oscillator tube, remove the crescent holder screw from the tube, then push the tube away to reveal the crescent. Clean the worm gear and shaft, the first two inches of the tube, threads for the crescent holder, and the holder itself.
To replace the crescent, place it on the worm gear, move the tube over the crescent. Lubricate the inside of the holder with graphite, and lightly oil its threads. Insert the holder into the tube, screw all the way, then back off 3/4 turn and retighten the set screw.
Add Vaseline to the worm gear and the shaft at the other of the tube. Spin the tube to distribute the Vaseline and test the assembled oscillator.
The ink motor should turn toward the feed board. There is no reverse switch. I recommend that you have a electrician rewire it for you. They can also check out the capacitor, power switch, power cord, etc.
You may be right. I was about to order new rollers but the rubber looked ok on these so I decided not to, but I should check to see if they are 2.5 and not flared. The motor, by the way, reverses direction whenever it is turned on. Any way to fix that easily?
It’s possible, but I don’t think it’s a motor issue. More likely, one or more tie rods are bent.
Also, the rollers could be out of spec, perhaps flared on the ends. The diameter should be 2.5″.