Inner Impression Ring Jammed into Highest Setting
Hello all,
We had our 10x15” windmill seize up (jammed closed in print position, impression on). Normally this is something we can handle and it’s not the first time it’s happened. This time however, the cause was not because of a paper feed issue, as there was no paper in the press. My pressman had been running a skip feed job and the impression lock nut had loosened. Over the course of printing he did not notice as impression went from around 2 to 4.5 on the handle. The press was obvious under extreme pressure and jammed up. He got it open by loosening the shear collar plate off, but the impression ring will not budge.
I have removed the impression lever, and I got the lock nut off, but the inner impression ring won’t move. It’s hard to work on without damaging the metal but so far I don’t see a way to unscrew it to loosen the ring. I’ve been using a vice and various hand tools and a penetrating spray to hopefully loosen the threads. No movement so far. Is there any trick to getting this part to release or start to rotate?

IMG_6097.jpeg

IMG_6096.jpeg
Might suggest putting a pipe clamp on the split portion visible and tighten that to close up the slot and see if that does something. Also, dose the nut thoroughly with a good pent rating oil and let that work in. Tightly wrapping the knurled nut with a rag will protect the knurls to allow use of a pipe wrench.
I am not familiar with Heidelbergs or this mechanism, but if you are trying to loosen the knurled collar on the lower section of the arm, and if you have some nylon strap material such as a tie-down strap, and a pair of visegrips, try wrapping the strap around the knurled collar and clamping the loose ends of it snugly in the visegrips as close to the collar as possible. You can then use the visegrips as a lever to rotate the collar to loosen it.
Bob
Upfront
I have never worked on this model.
However from the picture it appears that the item in question is for lack of better terms, a split collet with two clamping nuts. Falling back on my machine shop terms.
If so I would first try to put the nut that is removed back on the collet and lightly tighten it. If it is fact a split collet by doing so you can take some of clamping pressure off the stuck nut and you might be able to loosen it.
The method I used for holding round, highly machined rods that had threaded attachments on one or both ends is to get a small section of copper pipe, cut one side and insert over the rod and then clamp rod in a vise. Copper protects the machined rod from scratches and grooves, holds good under vise pressure and most importantly, if rod twists in vise no damage to rod.
Used this method when rebuilding large (400 HP and up) industrial double acting air compressors. Some of these rods were over 10 grand to replace and were special order, so scoring of rod surface was not acceptable.
Marshall
Another trick that you can try is to find someone with an ultrasound parts cleaner. 4-5 immersions should help open any dried up grease, oil, etc that might have formed in threaded nut. Not very likely, but every little bit could help.
My go too lubricant is home brew mixture. 50/50 mix of ATF and Acetone. The Acetone wicks into the smallest cracks, crevasse, voids and pulls the ATF in with it. Acetone evaporates and ATF is left behind and provides excellent lube.
Acetone is available at local hardware store and ATF at any NAPA, Autozone, etc. store
Hi just seen your inquiry about the Impression Rod T1704, hopefully you got it fixed, I’ve replaced only one of these rods in my 50 + years of working on the platens - if your still having problems [email protected]
20250402_185545.jpg
20250402_185529.jpg