Shearing collar for 10 x 15 windmill

After 25 years of running this press, I finally need a new collar. I found one in Colorado for $386.00. I have a few calls in for other prices, but still waiting. I also looked on E-Bay. Does anyone know where I can find one cheap? I didn’t realize how expensive they are. Thanks.

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Just for curiosity why do you think you need a new collar?

I just finished with a large area sculptured emboss (5000 impressions) that required a lot of impression. My next job was a simple number job and all of a sudden I needed twice as much impression as I normally do. Also I noticed the middle screw in the back was loose. I haven’t opened it yet but I’m assuming it’s a broken collar. Do you think it could be something else?

Not sure, but the collar generally doesn’t wear out, but breaks. There has been a couple of threads in the last year regarding replacement and breaks. My sense was that if you completed your heavy 5000 run successfully it may be something simpler.

Dennis:

If you need one I have a extra one at my shop.
Let me know.

Richard at [email protected]

With regard to Dick Holme: I sounds like there is a lot less packing for the numbering job and you just needed to run in the platen impression screw. Unless you are religious about keeping an absolute caliper of packing+printing stock, you will probably need to adjust impression. It is actually a good idea to relieve the impression screw all the way at the end of the day, especially if you are printing infrequently or having others use the press, that way if you forget the caliper of the previous job, you won’t smash the packing with the next run.

Thanks for your input. The latest is, I backed the impression all the way off and then set up on a simple door hanger die cut job. I used the same packing (caliper) that I always use and then began to slowly increase the pressure. I went all the way to No. 4 on the impression screw before the die cut was acceptable. Normally it was around the 2 spot. I think I will unscrew the 6 bolts and have a glance at the collar.

Well, I wasn’t looking at the posting carefully and missed that you are a 25 year veteran on the Windmill. My apologies for missing that. Does Printers Parts (or whoever that is that sells aftermarket Windmill parts) sell these. For that price I’m glad I’ve got a spare on hand.

I think you are correct in thinking it is the shear collar. We had one go out on us a few weeks back, and the symptoms were just what you described: Sudden lack of impression, requiring the press to be cranked way past 3 to get a print, and also the bolt in the back being noticeably loose. Sorry i don’t have a source to suggest, our mechanic had one on hand, and yes, it cost a bundle.
Good luck, and be cautious running the press at this point, you don’t want further damage to other parts.

Here is a thread from 2007.
http://www.briarpress.org/6787
Yes, the fact there is-was end play on the center bolt likely indicates cracked or broken. Pages 106-8 in the Heidelberg Manual available from Box Car Press has a good discussion.
http://www.boxcarpress.com/community/flywheel.html
In 2007 I found shear collars on Ebay for $20.

Hey thanks all. The press is on hold and I will get the wrench out tomorrow, The cheapest I found for a shearing collar was at Presswerx in Texas for $85.00 plus shipping. Heidelberg part no. T0152. I went ahead and ordered it. Hopefully it’s the right part.

This has not been as easy as I was hoping. Of course the heidelberg book makes it sound too easy. 4 of the bolts came out fairly easy with the open end wrench. I had to borrow a socket wrench and put a 3 foot bar on the end for the other two. Now I’m trying to figure out how to get the collar and shearing collar out. I did see a couple little cracks in the shearing collar. It seems to be really jammed in there.
I’ve tried picking at the edges, sticking a metal piece in the hole with a lip to try and pull it out and even messed with the impression screw. I certainly don’t want to damage anything important. Any suggestion would be great.
Thanks!!!

Slide hammer comes to mind. Is there any lip on the collar inside the center bolt hole that a slide hammer with a hook could get a purchase?

YES! Great idea. There is a lip in the inside. I actually have a slide hammer but I would have to get an attachment for it. I will look into it. Thanks!

Good! Might not need too much. Try a 16d box or common nail, point folded short back on the shank to make a hook - clipped or not as appropriate. If you have the slide hammer cap with a hole stick the nail through before you fold. If threaded shaft only get a nut and work the nail around the shaft behind the nut with a couple of pairs of pliers. As I think about it I might first try “jerking” it out with a pair of common pliers and a bent 16D nail.

This thing is really jammed in there. I tried the bent nail in the slide hammer with the cap screwed on but the lip isn’t deep enough to get a good grip. Then I tried a washer on the slide hammer but that also failed. There must be a tool made for situations like this. Pressing on……..

I’ve never had to replace my shear collar, but what about a gear puller?

I thought about using a gear puller,but there isn’t enough grip on the outside to grab it. The latest is, I put a block of wood in the platen area and slowly turned the flywheel by hand with the impression all the way on. The pressure pushed the collar out about 1/16”. I stopped, then backed off the impression and took the wood out. I didn’t go any further because I was afraid of breaking something. I wish I could see the guts of this machine. I just entered a forum with Heidelberg mechanics, but haven’t heard anything yet. Thanks for your idea!!!

Never turn the machine on with those bolts out only turn by hand.

There is a space between the shear collar and piston part that goes through the shear collar (this gap appears when the machine is in the picking up position) you’ll want to to put a big allen key in this gap as to wedge/push the collar out, work it around top to bottom, you will only get the shear collar out so far then it would be time to put a longer allen key in.

You should have someone help you turn the wheel while yourself holds the allen key in position.

Shearcollars fracture from to much pressure you’ll see cracks in collar when you get it out.

Thanks, I was thinking about turning the press on today.
No gap appeared when we turned the wheel. We had the impression on (4) and also tried with no impression. Could the piston be stuck inside the collar? Hopefully this pix will help.

image: Shearing Collar.jpg

Shearing Collar.jpg

YEAAA!!! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
While the press was at the pick up position, I took a socket wrench and tapped the part that says (Piston?). pushing it back so a gap appeared. Then as xleonardox mentioned, I put 2 allen wrenches on top and bottom in the gap and held them there while I had my son turn the flywheel and out it popped. The shearing collar was almost cracked in 2.

Thank you all for your help. I really appreciated it.
Dennis

aha good job! :D

Huzzah!

SHEAR COLLAR FOR 10X15 PLATEN
NEW $60.00

ALL NEW HEIDELBERG PARTS AVAILABLE

DENNIS,

ALL PLATENS RUN BETWEEN 1-2 INCREMENTS ON IMPRESSION ROD HANDLE ASUMMING EVERYTHING IS TYPE HIGH AND TYMPAN SHEET AND PACKING IS 40 THOU-1 MM.

YOU ARE RIGHT ..YOU MUST CHANGE THE SHEAR COLLARTHE PRESSURE YOU HAVE APPLIED IN YOUR LAST JOB HAS FRACTURED THE SHEAR COLLAR WHICH ACTS A S A SAFETY.

REMOVE COLLAR AND CHECK FOR HAIRLINE FRACTURES…USUALLY SHOW UP IN INSIDE OF RING.

SHEAR COLLARS SHOULD BE CHANGED EVERY THREE YEARS .

COLLARS SHOULD BE CHANGED WHEN IMPRESSION IS UNEVEN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

CENTRE PUNCH AND HAMMER .

POP MARK IN COLLAR AND HIT CLOCKWISE WITH HAMMER IT IS JUST NOT SITTING SQUARE IN CASTING DUE TO THE PRESSURE INFLICTED.

Thanks for the info. I’ll be changing the collar in my other press soon. Hopefully it’ll go a lot smoother.

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