Yesterday while printing a plate the press started “clanging” about 3 inches away from the feedboard, the grippers rising correspond with the sound. It seems to be louder on the left side of the press, away from the hand crank. While it doesn’t affect the quality of prints, I am worried that something is wrong and I don’t want to damage the press if I continue printing.
Update: After oiling the press the sound has quieted but the grippers are still raising.
It’s likely that the automatic gripper function is engaged. When the knurled pin “A”, shown in the illustration, is pulled all the way up the grippers automatically open as the carriage nears the feed board. Then, as carriage is moved back farther, the pressure exerted against the bumper springs will close the grippers.
To disengage the automatic gripper function, roll the carriage forward, then push latch “B” toward the assembly block and push down on pin “A’ to lock the latch. Grippers will now raise via the pedal.