Vandercook No.4 motor jolts and more: easy to fix?

Hi! I’m in the UK and looking at buying a Vandercook 4C, serial no. 6018, made by Miller. We visited it this weekend, but there are 3 things I’m worried about. I’d really appreciate some advice. Points 2 and 3 are the biggies for me.

I’m maxxed out on budget to buy and move the machine, so if these issues are costly to fix, then I may have to pull out. I need to let the seller know within a few days.

1. Press is not level and has wobble.

I’m aware that this may have caused uneven wear to the bearings and rails. It has been unlevelled for about 3 years, and not used much (once a week, if that). How much wear might be likely over that time, and would it be a problem?

2. The motor jolts

It had a new motor 3-4 years ago (single phase) which is bolted to the shelf underneath the grippers. The drive chain isn’t taut; there’s quite a bit of slack. When the inking rollers contact the ink drum (when rollers are lowered/engaged or when cylinder returns), the motor jolts up and down, sometimes quite violently, and the chain flaps about. It makes quite an alarming racket.

Is this a problem?

Would tightening the drive chain help?

3. When the gripper foot pedal is depressed, the cylinder rolls away from the feedboard

The cylinder ends up a good 4-6 inches from the feedboard with the handle in the down position. Handle has to be held to stop this happening, which means paper has to be aligned with one hand.

Why is it rolling away?

Would this have any impact on registration?

Thanks in advance for any advice/guidance.

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Paul Moxon, Moderator
Admin
12 days ago

1. Press is not level and has wobble: Given light use over three years, the wear to the bearings and rails may be minimal—only an examination can confirm. Bearings can be adjusted to compensate for some wear.

2. The motor jolts: Typically, this is due to a stretched chain. Either the shelf or the motor base has slots that allow the motor to be slid to take up the slack. If the motor bounces up and down, the bolts may be very loose, or the sprocket shaft may be bent.

3. When the gripper foot pedal is depressed, the cylinder rolls away from the feedboard: The carriage latch spring [cylinder check] is probably broken. This may be the same as the QRS-6 spring used on the Vandercook No. 4.

Last edited 12 days ago by Paul Moxon, Moderator
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