Heidelberg platen suction taps

The last T-platen I refurbed had very stiff taps. I inverted the rail and put a couple drops of presswash in each tap and worked them back and forth with good results. I also cleaned each bore/tap with pipe cleaners dipped in presswash, to extract the lint/grime/grunge.

P. P. Method from way back, sucker bar of, via the pinch bolt and of course the input hose, immersed in fairly big container, and 2/3/4 maybe more kettles of boiling water, and ordinary detergent, (washing up liquid) poured on to sucker bar and left till water goes cold, repeated possibly, according.?
Invariably it worked and freed up, presumably, (not fact conjecture) because the hot water very slightly expanded the suckers on the bar, and the bar, and from the inside, leeched into the tight NON gaps and worked on the, crap, paper dust, and often the *Intergram* or dry set off spray.

This method was also used, effectively, on the 4 legged, adjustable arms, on H/Berg cylinders, etc. Set off units.

Where the 4 arms, usually, stainless steel, sometimes chrome Plated brass, were constantly cranked in and out to suit, the minders, overlooked or did not get time to cleaen on a regular basis

When they reached the point, where they could no longer be altered, and the minders got stick, for *set off* on a big 4 colour job, Plan (A) as above came into play.!!

*Intergram* or set off spray, (perhaps by another name Stateside) and possibly by the nature of the job it performed, was quite abrasive and easily compacted in the tubes, hence the problems.

The soaking in spirit, of several sorts, Easing oil, W D. 40, even Auto Diesel seemed in innefective, perhaps our HOT water etc, worked by its nature.
Admittedly we snapped a few, trying, especially the type that had articulated arms, as well as adjustable.!!!!
Apologies for the ramble, May help.?

Thanks guys, all of the taps can be turned by hand and only one is still a bit stiff.

I borrowed a tall flower vase from the wife, added boiling water and washing up liquid and left the taps to soak. I changed the water several times.

When hot all the taps turned easily.

I got a load of gunge out of the holes with the pipe cleaners and after each soaking there were deposits at the bottom of the vase.

Platen Printer, Thank you, most of the, Old Goats, ramblings are based on facts, from a long time ago.
The little odd Humour helps to keep the, post alive; and hopefully, helps the original Query.

Re your one, sticky tap/sucker, (probably too late, this time around)? after the initial dunking, the hot water leaves the bar perfectly dry, follows:-
Tiny amount of *Graphite powder, (dry lubricant) funneled into the open end, of your sucker bar, shaken not stirred? possibly rotated, picks up the ports from inside the bar.

Little patience with all 8 suckers, rotated gently, freed up and lubricated, excess graphite, blown out/sucked out, with ordinary household vacuum cleaner, but with such a minute amount involved, 1/4 of a tiny teaspoon or less, it matters not, if it ends up in the pump.

*Graphite Powder?? Filched from A/The Linotype operator, (for cleaning the space bands) Or bought from, good hardware store/outlet, OR normal pencil lead, gently scraped, with care, and Stanley Knife, Exacto Knife etc.

*Graphite Powder, as Dry Lubricant, was used extensively on Folders, Stichers, Small perfect Binders, etc., where normal oil would contaminate the stock.

*Graphite Powder, as Dry lubricant, M. on M. Briar Press, 01/10/ 2014.???