Missing pinion…

Looks like you will need a crankshaft too. The pinion needs something to attach to. :-(

It’s hard to tell from the photo but the shaft may have snapped off at the bearing in a move. Many of the later presses had a large pulley on that end of the shaft outboard of the pinion gear so there was probably enough shaft sticking out for leverage. I believe the shaft is made of cast steel and is brittle — many have been broken on the flywheel side in moves. You’ll pretty certainly need a new shaft. If it has the crank in the middle it was made for a treadle; if no crank you may want to look for a shaft with the crank to make it possible to use a treadle.

Bob

That’s a very fresh break, unprotected broken cast iron doesn’t stay rust free for very long.

Thanks everyone! The shaft does have a crank in the middle for a treadle. Does anyone happen to know anybody who has a crankshaft and pinion or were I could get one made? I’m located in southeast Michigan area.

Looks like $110 will get you the shaft you need, without the crank for the treadle.

Mcmaster carr item:
60” 6117K95 $108.89

You would still need to get the fly wheel off the old shaft and on the new without breaking it, along with the bearing on the flywheel side.

If you still wanted to use a treadle, Monotype mick had a really good idea using a bicycle chain ring mounted to the middle of the shaft, off center. With a little work, I bet you could make that work, and I’d love to see pictures of that setup.

Option #2 is to cut your current shaft halfway between the break and the crank, and use a sleeve to attach a longer shaft to the existing one. There’s some risk of this not working, but it might be worth trying. You could then use the Hern Treadle like everyone else.

Option #3 is to find a replacement shaft. Don Black in Canada, Rick the printer in Athens, ??? I’m sure others can help.

Double check all your dimensions before ordering anything. You will need to find the drive pinion as well. I’d try hard to find a used one. Having a gear made is expensive. Check with whoever owned the press when it broke.

Good luck.

Jackie S, Keelan and luke, (from Monotype Mick) under another name cause some toe rag compromised my E.mail and blocked me out of everthing and yet to gain re entry!!! I think they were looking for The White House and got me by mistake, reasonable Mistake??? I expect an apology from B. A. any time soon!!! Perhaps Dick could speak for him!!! Luke, yes, thank you for remembering, my post, in actual fact my original premise was a cycle chain running over a cog/sprocket removed from the cick-start of a big Japenese Motorcycle, which of course performed the same task perfectly, i.e. on a straight shaft (no crank, no necessaty for removable collar on one side of the machine etc) the foot pedal merely pulled the cog/sprocket with the chain down, after initially giving the flywheel impetus by pulling it TOWARDS you, not vice versa as posted the other day, (WAKE UP AT THE BACK !!! H. And S. may be looking in?) Just after the original posts were appearing I acquired An Adana T.P. 48 for my own use (T.P.48,s were made as treadle or motorised whichever was required) Purely by coincidence mine was in treadle form, But which I have now converted to power, consequently I have removed the treadle as/for negotiable currency in the future!!>>>BUT the treadle is so stupidly simple:- The actual foot pedal (With the obligatory Adana Cap “A” of course, under your foot) is carried on 2 steel arms which swing on a simple bar at the rear/base of the machine, between the 2 arms at the front is carried an ordinary pedal cycle free wheel sprocket, (without the 2 little dogs in) which means it allows the chain to go backwards and forwards at will, the endless chain passes over an eccentric pulley on the straight shaft (NO CRANK) I gave the machine a little nudge to start (as with any treadle) and found that with even the gentle foot pressure, once it was rolling, could have printed at a very impressive speed, it was so simple and yet so clever, I played for quite a while before removing it. I am sure that the principle could be reproduced, for comparative cents/peanuts rather than many Dollars? >>> But dont tell the The Heavy Mob (professional Graphic Suppliers) where the info originated from???>>>Friends Thank You, MICK.

When operating the press with a treadle there is a fair amount of torque on the shaft between the crank and the pinion gear and any repair in that area will have to be quite strong yet fit into the bearing. The only way I can imagine it being repaired would be to precisely center-bore the shaft about 3/4 inch and a matching piece of shaft the same, and forge-braze a piece of 3/4 inch steel rod into the bores joining the crankshaft with the extension for the pinion gear. The extension will need a keyway machined into it for the key that holds the pinion gear. You could inquire of Boston Gear for a pinion gear, but you need some fussy measurements to specify the gear — tooth shape and depth, pitch diameter, bore diameter, keyway dimensions, width of gear — and you should get one with a shoulder for a set screw which ought to be in the keyway. All doable but tricky. A good machine shop should be able to help you.

Finding another shaft might be easier and cheaper. You could also check with John Horn, who seems to have a stock of parts presses in his vast collection. Also Dave Churchman.

Bob

Mick’s solution for the treadle-drive is nice and simple.

The tricky bit is the pinion gear. An existing one can be traced or rubbed for a profile.

I’m near Ann Arbor, with immediate access to a couple of C&Ps if you need a look-see or a hand.