C&P Pilot Roller Arm & Trucks
Would anyone happen to have some photos or be able to explain what I can’t figure out. I’ve been restoring a C&P Old Style Pilot Press. I’m at the point where I’m putting it back together but I can’t figure out how to fit the roller arm in between the roller frame and the right side arm. If I work it in there… there isn’t enough room for the roller frame to move freely up and down when the lever is pulled.
Basically… the roller arm is scraping up against the roller frame. The arm itself is slightly curved…
Let me know what you think!
Thanks.
Matthew
Could you get us some photos?! I have a lot of experience with Pilots, but I don’t understand what’s going on here…
Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY
Here you go.
Hope this helps.
Let me know if you need a picture from a different angle.
Thanks,
Matthew
3.jpg
1.jpg
2.jpg
Unless I’m mistaken, I believe the “roller arm” which activates the roller frame should be straight and not bent. Since it is made of cast iron (I believe) it might need to be heated to be return to a straight profile. Can anyone else confirm this? I looked at the pilot clone I have at work & this connecting arm is straight. I have a new style pilot at home which I will check to be certain that C&P had the same configuration, but it seems that might be the most likely culprit. I assume if the arm is reversed laterally that the bend would interfere with the side arms of the press.
Exactly. I took this press apart 2 weeks ago. Removed the rust, primed it, and painted it this past weekend. It was working before that. I took multiple pictures before but missed this part. Would someone else have pictures I could go by? I’ve looked online but I can’t get a good view of what I’m looking for. Thanks.
I just checked the five Pilots in my studio and none of them have this bend. Three of them are old style.
Daniel Morris
The Arm Letterpress
Brooklyn, NY
I have seen many Pilot arms that were bent like this. I always figured it was done at the factory to accommodate slight variations in each press.
Anyway…
You should be able to flip the actuator arm so that the bend is nearest the front of the press. It should bend away from the edge of the roller frame that is currently rubbing.
Hope this helps.
Brad.
It has been fixed.
I’ve run into a new problem…
I knew I would need new rollers. Therefore, I contacted NA Graphics about sending in the old roller cores and they stated “Our rollers come with new cores so it is not cost effective to send in old cores.” Therefore, I just put an order in for 2 new rubber rollers with new cores. I did not take into account that the diameter of the cores would not be the same as the diameter of the holes in trucks (that I got with the press). Therefore, my trucks will not fit on my new roller cores. So, my questions are…
Could I go to a bearing distributor and get bearings in place of my trucks?
Has anyone tried this?
Also, does anyone out there have the correct diameter measurements for the trucks (on a C&P Pilot)?
One last thing, the trucks I currently have are tapered on one end… What purpose does this serve? If I were to find bearings the correct diameter, would it be alright if they were not tapered?
Thanks,
Matthew
- I realize that I could order the trucks from NA Graphics but I’m not so excited about investing another $50 for them and shipping.
could the trucks be filed to make the rollers fit? maybe take them to a machine shop.