The Framers Forum

I’m hoping that a machinery maintenance guru can help with this one:-

From the rest position the plunger can be pushed down easily by hand, and it springs back freely when released with no sign of friction or stickiness.

However in normal use, immediately after wedge insertion, the plunger can be very slow to return to the ready position, and often does not make it all the way before the next wedge is fired.

you've probasbly checked already, but could it be an exhaust valve or exhaust air outlet blocked (retaining pressure and not letting the piston return)? just a stab in the dark in the absence of any other suggestions. had similar problems with a framers corner pneumatic and an alfamacchine in the past where they had gummed up with dirt trapped with compressor condensate. Or an o-ring seal gone in the valve block.

Thanks Kev,

I tried removing the little exhaust silencer thingy but that made no difference - apart from the noise that is

The machine seems to be working fine in every other way.

I will have a look at the exhaust logic next, if I can find it.

Hi John I have a 3099 and I think I have this problem when the plunger speed controller knob gets knocked. I don't know if yours has one but I think that is what it may be. Mine has two chromed knobs which control the pressure of the plunger and one for the clamp. Sometimes these get knocked and you loose pressure. I can't be sure but I know something happens to mine and that fixes it .

Thanks for your suggestion Alistair, it was worth a try, but unfortunately the clamp pressure adjustment seems to have no effect on the plunger's return speed on our machine.

Ah you only have one control, so its not that then. Sorry I couldn't help. Have you tried giving Neil (framingengineer) a pm?

Cheers

Alistair

Sounds like it could be the limit switch. Alternatively it might be the tension on the spring that fires the limit switch. If this seems double dutch give me a ring sometime. 07967106346