Help with Kelsey Excelsior 5x8

Hello I am new here and new to letterpress printing. Recently My boss put me in charge of figuring out a letterpress he had got his hands on a while back, (Excelsior Model U 5x8). I have gathered some knowledge about it, but have come across an issue. The press does not seem to make an impression. I tried loosening and re-tightening the impression screws, but only found that the more I tightened the screws the more impossible it became to press down the handle. Does anyone know what I should do? Has anyone faced a problem like this before? should I bolt down the press? Is it that it is too rusty and just needs to be cleaned? am I adjusting the impression screws incorrectly? Someone help please! my boss is counting on me and I would be extremely grateful! Thank you.

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The press should be bolted to a strong bench. You need to set the impression screws, they should be adjusted and left alone. You need to read up on this, there is a lot of info in the discussion section on this site.

Kelsey Printer’s Guide
http://letterpresscommons.com/files/2012/10/kelsey-printers-guide.pdf

How thick is your packing?

G.M.H. Sir, Occasionally a few of the esteemed buddies herein, understandably, post a variety of helpful responses, on the assumption that the enquirer is already conversant with many of the intracasies and terminologies involved, but in this case, as you have implied that you are groping in the dark, perhaps a gentle path through the minefield may help.
My humble effort follows thus:- (quite prepared for constructive additions and critisisms, if it helps your learning curve) With the rollers off and NO chase or *forme* whatsoever in the machine, rendering impression screws irrelevant, initially, will the operating handle reach its lowest point without resistance, which would put the ink roller arms at the highest point, proving or disproving?? anything binding or seizing during the complete stroke/traverse, top to bottom.!!!
As your machine would appear to be the type where the Platen rather than the bed is adjustable for impression, just as a proving test, back of all 3 or 4 impression screws, (i.e. anti clock looking at the heads of the screws/bolts) to ascertain free movement in the sprung loaded CENTRE BOLT, (here in the U.K. our Adana,s are slightly different in that the Bed is adjustable with 4 impression screws, but has 2, (Two) *UN-SPRUNG* bed securing bolts, frequently giving rise to enthusiastic new devotees, ripping one or both securing bolts out of the bed.
Next logical step,!! With a fairly heavy forme/chase in the machine, (no ink, no rollers) all 3 or 4 impression screws backed right off with say 2, 3, sheets of soft stock, even blotting paper as packing!! come up on to impression proper, in fully backed off mode, should be NO impression and with an extra pair of hands, holding on impression, gently and progressively bring all 4 impression screws up to equal light contact, you should feel, gentle resistance, from the blotting paper and also prove, how equal, or not, overall impression appears.
That at least will give a safe starting point for packing and impression proper. . . Hopefully helpful. Good Luck.