Rollers & Bearings

If the bearings are operating well and are loose, I would just do a surface clean by wiping off with a rag dampened in solvent. You don’t want to risk washing the grease out of them.

As jhenry states, don’t bother too much with the bearings. I believe they are sealed and already have the grease they need, but maybe if they are not completely sealed then if you clean them or soak them some stuff might get in. So just do a superficial clean-up, and if they are not working smoothly, then get replacements.
About the handle, I believe you have to unscrew the ball handle knob first before you turn the nut.
They might be tightened with loctite and so maybe they can’t be unscrewed. At least on bigger Vandercooks that’s how it is.
Good luck!

Hmm I was thinking they might have some adhesive in there because it wasn’t budging…

Thing is, the other ball came off nicely so I don’t know. A bit frustrating.

Thank you for the feedback on the bearings. I’ll try a surface clean and go from there. Much appreciated!

Ya it’s still not budging today :s
Is there anyway to dissolve the loctite (if that’s what it is)?

My guess is that it is loctited..
If this plastic knob has a brass insert, you’ll probably be able to break the bond of the loctite. If it is threaded plastic then you’ll probably break it.
What does the other knob look like inside? Brass insert?
Maybe try it with some pliers and a towel wrap around so you don’t scar the knob. If not possible, then probably you’ll end up having to replace both knobs. they are not expensive. Just measure the outer diameter and the threaded insert and look for them online.

I don’t know what else you could try. I think acetone dissolves loctite but also damages the bakelite or plastic of the knob..

it’s a brass insert on the other knob. that’s good to know that I can find replacement handles because the little crack i made is bumming me out a bit. didn’t take it apart to wreck it, after all :) I think I might have another bout with it and be less worried about the handle then. Thanks, enrique.

where would the best place to find the knobs be, enrique?

Yeah, look first for the replacements, locate them, and then do away with the stock knob.

Good luck!

If you feel that you have to decontaminate the bearings soak in whatever will achieve your desired result blow them out with compressed air (if available) and then with metal container bean can or similar heat up gently with bearings immersed inhalf and half vaseline and high melting point grease. The fairly hot grease cannot fail to repack the bearing. Been doing this on idler pulleys from motor vehicles for a long time. It will almost certainly last as long as “packed for life” bearing pulleys on car cam belt idlers. Caution made just one mistake, let a chap whos car I was repairing (printer of course) repack his own idler bearing via this method and he cooked the plastic of the pulley. Printing machine bearings are usually all metal. There may be some exceptions of course. Mick <><><><><<><><><> d o