Vice Automatic
The last two machines that I have visited have not had vice automatic even close to being adjusted.
A question I am going to throw out: are other people keeping their vice automatics in-tune, and is anyone else running into the same thing that I am seeing?
My thought on this is that if the vice automatic isnt adjusted, you are almost guaranteeing a front squirt, sooner or later. Not to mention busted bottom lugs on your mats.
Dan
Hmm, no interest?
Let me embellish with a quick summary of the adjustment.
I definitly want to pull the pin and plunger, first off.
I grab a pair of seldom used mats and start with the fine adjustment of the first elevator.
Pull the clutch and let the machine advance until the first elevator drops, then throw in the clutch before lock-up. The vice can be opened and the two mats can be inserted at opposite ends of the first elevator jaw, just inside and flush with the left and right hand vice jaws. Another option here is to insert the mats prior to engaging the clutch; visually align the mats over the left (and right) vice jaw faces. With mats in place, advance the machine to lock-up then throw-in the clutch. Grab the first elevator and shake it up and down and see how much free travel there is. Shouldn’t be much. I see whether I can twist down the adjustment screw (the big one at the top of the first elevator head..the one toward the rear of the machine) until there is no play at all - don’t force it. Try shaking the elevator up and down…satisfied that there is no movement. Okay, now back off the screw one eighth of a turn, maybe a tad more. Tighten the set screw.
Grab the big cam at the end and back the machine to start position (BUT turn the motor off - safety first, right?)…okay I apply some heavy muscle and eventually get it to move back. Retrieve my mats.
Now, I get a thin space mat, and place it flat onto the vice frame, exactly beneath that big nut we just adjusted. Pull the clutch, stand back and see if the machine stops. If it doesnt the vice automatic isnt working. Turn down the other scew on the elevator head - the small one on the front. Screw down, then roll the machine again. Keep going through these two steps until the machine eventually stops prior to full lock-up. Then back the machine up (see above, motor off) take the mat off and then see if the machine will cycle through. Caution - on a machine with lots of wear, these adjustments may not find satisfactory results. The reason is that the automatic stop rod pawl is worn and doesnt work against the mold dog properly…that pawl is an easy replacement. The fine adjustment of the first elevator may be affected by wear on the rails in the first elevator head assembly. Replace parts as necessary and do these adjustments to cut out frustrating and dangerous front squirts. Its too simple and effective to ignore.
It appears that no one is is interested in a vice automatic. They probably think it is illegal. I know exactly what you are talking about. I installed INTERTYPE linecasting machines from 1957 till 1980. The last F-4 was installed in Concord CA in 1980. The Last Monarch was installed in Albuquerque NM and the last G-4-4 was installed in Waukegan, Il. I am just entering my second childhood. In just 72 more years I will be 150 years old. From 1980 til 1999 I transferred to the bindery division of Harris Intertype. Installed a lot of Newspaper equipment such as inserters and conveyors. Also some bindery equipment that made magazines and books. I would like to talk to anyone out there that is interested in the printing industry.
Hurrah for 1) a response and 2) my remembering my ten character, case sensitive password. (on the purple sticky that constantly falls off of my monitor onto the floor—it is now secured with cellophane).
Clint, there are currently six linotypes and intertypes in Houston that function to some degree, to my knowledge. Three of those operate commercially. They are all conventional straight matter or display machines. I have not run across a Monarch or Elektron…yet.
Sounds like Harris took care of their people; working on bindery equipment is important and exacting activity. No front squirts on a conveyor (okay, front squirts arent likely to occur on a new G4, either). Check out the UK Metaltype page, there is good general discussion about Linotypes & Intertypes, there too.
Updated. Thanks for the plug Dan, for anyone interested here’s the URL:
http://www.metaltype.co.uk
You’ll be made more than welcome Clint!