Stiff Throw-Off Lever on ARAB Press
A while ago, I purchased a ARAB press by Josiah Wade (No. 4764, approx. 1910). I am very happy with the machine, but I am currently struggling with an issue involving the throw-off lever, and I hope someone here might be able to point me in the right direction.
To get the throw-off lever into motion, I need to apply a significant amount of force. It’s not possible to operate it with one hand. The resistance is mainly at the moment of initiating movement; once the lever is moving, it becomes somewhat smoother, but still not as smooth as it should be in my opinion.
What I have already tried:
- Lightly sanded and lubricated the arc that positions the lever, to rule out friction there. This made no difference.
- Removed the adjustment screw of the lever, added extra grease to the mechanism, and moved it repeatedly. No difference.
- Loosened the screw on the left arm and gently tapped the arm outward to see if the arm was putting excessive pressure on the mechanism. This also made no difference.
- I did notice that one clamping screw on the cylinder (on the right side, photo with red arrow) applies significant pressure, and tightening this bolt makes the lever even heavier to operate. However, even when this clamping screw is removed entirely, the lever is still not operating smoothly, whereas I would expect it to move freely if this were the source of the problem.
Does anyone have suggestions on how to proceed? Am I overlooking something?
Screenshot 2025-12-12 at 14.37.44.png
Screenshot 2025-12-12 at 14.38.04.png
Screenshot 2025-12-12 at 14.38.48.png
letterpress.jpg
Need to step by step, or, part by part, disassemble to find binding. It sounds like you have gone thru with pry bar or brass hammer looking for freeway, but something is holding it back. Focus first, but not only, on the side arms & back shaft. The bigger shaft that goes thru the bed.. each side arm attaches to it.
Maybe a call to Patrick Roe at the Logan Press might be usefull.
The arched rail over which the handle of the throwoff moves appears to be heavily scored near the top edge on the handle side. I can not tell what the handle consists of - it looks like a coiled spring that extends into the housing of the handle. It seems to me possible that the portion of that spring (if that is what it is) has slipped to a place where it rubs against the arc and that would cause the problem you have. Whatever caused that scoring may well be the source of the problem.
One option, try swapping the side arms around. If it works like a C&P, the eccentric is basically applied at the side arms. I just rebuilt an 8x12 and had this exact issue when reassembled. I tried a few things with little improvement, and it did need a ridiculous amount of force to move. Finally I swapped the side arms around and that fixed it.
It isn’t as loose and easy to move as my 10x15, but it isn’t broken in as much either. I can at least move it with one arm now. Some of these parts break in, in a certain orientation and need to be the same to work well. Another option to try is to flip the sidearms around end to end instead of switching them with each other.
An Arab press is essentially a “New Style” Gordon, whereas C&Ps are “Old Style” Gordons. On C&Ps, the eccentric is in the rear, connected via the throw-off linkage. On a NS Gordon, the eccentric is in the front, directly connected to the lever. Different geometry entirely, and I can’t imagine a scenario in which switching the connecting arms would help things. Wish I could think of something that would be helpful… https://pandemonium.press/old-style-vs-new-style-platen-presses/
I realize they’re a much different design, but if any parts have been swapped around, it may still be the issue.
Another thought, I know on the press I just moved multiple oil holes were clogged up. Is it getting oil to where it needs it? If you use a drill bit twisted between your fingers you can pull the gunk out of the oil holes.
I mean the 3 main options are, something isn’t getting oil, something is assembled incorrectly, or something is binding/too tight.
Looking again closely at the close-up photo of the throwoff handle, the top end of the lower section, into which the handle, with what appears to be a coiled spring around the handle, inserts, that end looks damaged to me. Without knowing how the mechanism is supposed to work, it looks to me like that spring (if that is what it is) has worn its way into the square section, and the scoring looks to be about where the end of the spring would be sticking out of that housing. What is the function of that spring? Do you press down on the end of the plunger to operate the throw-off? I really think that part is the source of the trouble you have moving the throwoff handle, it is rubbing hard against the arc.
The side arms are not symmetrical on the Arab presses! The oil holes are drilled in such a way that swapping around wouldn’t allow you to lubricate.
My advice (I restored two of them) is to carefully dismantle the throw-off lever and the mechanism, clean it all up nicely, and don’t use steel wool or sand paper, lubricate and try again.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/didm/albums/72157710051811856/with/4844002...