Leibinger shafts

2 questions:

1. Is there a way to tell if a shaft is bent by looking at it or do you need a tool to determine this? I’ve been doing a trial and error to see if the machine works.

2. I’ve noticed 2 different shafts. One with the groove and one with no groove. Why?

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rolling them on a flat smooth surface, like a piece of glass will show straightness. if you were to roll them with that pin end “hanging over” an elevated edge, you could roll completely.
There are more knowledgeable peeps on here to explain the groove.

A solid shaft would be for solid wheels—no drop zeros.

The slotted shaft allows the supporting tab on the zero to be supported, but dropped if turned halfway to the next number—then reset to the original position (boy, that’s not a great explanation.

Drop zero machines should not be used for heavy impression or crash imprinting, though it happens all the time. Prolonged use of such a machine will result in weak printing zeros and require either new wheels, or some fiddly repair.

Thanks for your replies.
The shaft has a flat edge on the pin side. I tried rolling it as far as possible, but it’s still hard to detect a bend. I guess the shaft doesn’t have to bend very much to mess up the machine.
Makes sense about the groove. I also noticed very small nicks on the edge of the groove and was wondering if those could have an effect on the machine.
The most common problem I have with these machines is a wheel randomly turning over.( i.e: 12300 to 11299) I mostly run in reverse and my rollers are set perfectly.

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Your machines may need cleaning and oiling. I always used 3 in 1 oil. Your lock up may be to tight. Try a test on the machine when it is unlocked and see if the wheels turn free. If the roller itself is causing the wheel to turn may need cleaning or you could have a broken paw or paw spring .

In the UK they are called pawls , rather than paw. Exactly right tho’, autoink, probably either a worn or broken pawl or pawl spring, It is possible to ease out a pawl spring a bit to make it more lively, but if broken try for a new one maybe from a clock parts supplier. A model railway hobbyist could likely make you a new pawl.

D.B. in an attempt to be a little constructive,
(A) it should be fairly easy to find a Buddy, not too far away with a *Lathe* have the shaft mounted in an ordinary 3 Jaw self centering chuck, and via the use of clock gauge, (without even turning the Lathe under power!) Out of truth, Bends,
Inaccurasies, etc., can be seen down to 4 places of decimals, i.e. .0003”
(B) given the request, (with many many Numbering boxes available) would be happy, to dispatch (as Anglo/Yankee, Entante Cordiale) 2/3 shafts in required format, GRATIS, perhaps a tiny donation to Briar Press, running Funds.

One or two of us, U.K. were around, when *Uncle Sam* was helping the hard pressed *Limeys* W W II.! Mick.