Through a lucky fluke I have come to own a Heidelberg platen red ball (from right in my neighborhood). I’ve been going over the machine, reading everything here about it. There is one thing, front center on the moving gear-head for the gripper arms. There are two bolts sticking out, that appear to either need nuts - or have something connected to it. Anybody know what belongs there?

image: MissingNuts.jpg

MissingNuts.jpg

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From memory an old guy who use to look after these press told me that they are meant to be like that, and that nothing is missing from them. I can’t remember why but will ask him again when I talk to him, but from what I know they are ok to be like that.

They are threaded taper pins. Nothing belongs there unless you are trying to remove the pins to disassemble the gripper mechanism. These types of taper pins are typically used where removal is expected during the life of the equipment or blind locations where removal would be difficult. You will find taper pins all over the press.

Page 82 - 85 in the parts book. Part O12

If you do not have it download the parts book from Boxcar Press’s website or look for one on Ebay to purchase. The purchase route is worthwhile, as the multi-generation scanned copies are hard to read.

Thanks for those comments! Yes, I’m looking for a better printed version of anything on the press. I did get one of those ‘blown up’ third generation photocopy parts manuals which is very hard to read. I did get an original 77 Operating Manual (even though my press is 1964). I’d be willing to copy and post it here if anybody thinks it be of value. It is a little different than the one available at Boxcar Press.

They belong and they align the whole head to correct position and should never need removal , even dismantling the shell housing you have no need to disturb them .

Most importantly, these threaded pins are easy to remove - you thread an appropriately-sized nut onto the pin and as you tighten it, the nut bottoms against the piece and the pin is pulled out.
I’ve used this method on our Cylinder as well - there are two of these under the top oiling “hatch” which need to be removed to get the guide bar assembly off to allow removal of the feed board.
On the platen, I’ve used those very pins in the photo to drop the driveshaft down for drilling access to pins in the lay guide bar assembly. (Someone had closed the press on an unbolted but not yet removed rider roller; “hilarity” ensued.) The left hand guide block for the guide shaft actually bent, causing binding. Very careful shimming avoided an $800 parts bill. Good times.

If that’s your idea of “hilarity”, I’d hate to go to a “comedy show” with you! Sheesh… Stuff ending up in the press is my worst nightmare.

Heard a story where I work about a guy not locking down the chase in a Kelly C. It almost went through the wall. He walked out without saying a word. No one was hit and that wasn’t any anything but hilarity.

Oops…that last line should have been…No one was hit and there wasn’t any hilarity about it. Posted that after staying up to watch Wallenda cross Niagra Falls last night. Must have been half asleep.