IMPRESSION PROBLEMS ON THE ARAB

Problems with impression on the Arab Printing press:

For the past year, when printing on the Arab, regardless of impression setting, I would have to hold the impression lever forward to achieve any print or impression at all. This is because when the platens were pressed together, the impression lever would be forced back. As the impression lever was slotted into the curved impression rail, I would have to hold the lever forward into position with my own strength. At times, this would be enough to achieve a good print. Other times, when I would need more impression or the artwork was larger, I would not be strong enough to hold the impression lever forward.

Over time, inevitably, the curved impression rail developed a hairline fracture. I knew it was only a matter of time before the entire thing cracked off. This is exactly what happened the other night.

I have been very frustrated with the press in the past and have thought “surely, all the power of this press can’t possibly be channeled or dependent on the thin curved impression rail”. It just didn’t make sense. However, I could not figure out any other reason the press was not printing correctly. Other people have also suggested that as long as I get the crack fixed or have a new rail engineered, my impression problem would be solved.

However, since the impression rail (or governor rail as some call it) has finally broken off, I’ve been able to run the press to see if I could find the problem. The only difference when running the press now, is that the impression lever can lay slightly more forward since the governor rail is removed.
Running the flywheel slowly by hand forward to achieve a print, I can physically feel the impression lever (and large connecting rod that runs under the table top) “engage”. This means, while the press is in forward motion, platens together, the impression lever is locked into place. I cannot pull it backward nor do I need to hold it in place with all my might. The result, is a perfect print and impression. What I’ve been wanting all along.

BUT, if I run the press forward to quickly (still by hand), I can see and feel the impression lever “slipping” and not engaging. Therefore, the platen barely touches, achieving no print or impression. This must be what’s been happening all along and why I’ve had to hold the impression lever forward. My prints have not achieved the impression I’ve desired because instead of using the power of the Arab itself, prints have been powered by my tiny arm and governor rail.

On my impression lever, there is a nub that sticks through a slot in which you can adjust the amount of impression. We have noticed in our testing since the rail broke off that if we put the impression on full, the less likely the press is to slip. Our only theory is that somehow the internal impression rod needs to be able to rotate forward more so that the arms connecting it to the back platen can ‘engage’.

I do have an Arab Parts list as well as the assembly instructions, but the assembly instructions have not shown any light on the situation and the parts list is for much newer models than my own.

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions about what could be happening, I would be so grateful!

I may have to make a video of what I mean to show what exactly is happening with the press when it is run.

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