Problem with a GTO

Hi,

New to the forum and new to printing. I have been running a Heidelberg - Printmaster GTO 52 for about 6 months now, very little training on it. Today in the middle of a run the machine "shuddered" and the print went off vertically. I checked the plate cylinder and it had adjusted on its own from the zero position to 300. I loosened the three bolts and adjusted back to zero, tightened them back. Inching the press forward and backwards it seemed to operate fine, but start up to continue the run and it did the same thing again.

has anyone encountered this problem before? I put in a service call at the end of my shift today, but I would really like any knowledge more experienced printers might impart.

either way it looks like I am down for a couple of days.

 

Hi Daniel - what model year, how many total impressions on machine and how many units...I've seen something like this before, but not common. Under the tensioning bolts used to "lock up" the plate cylinder, there are spacer washers. Due to wear, the washers become to thin to fully cinch up the double gear assembly, and may spin on you. Very uncommon, but possible. The pin or locking barrel that you must pull to swing the cylinder out of zero position must also be broken or worn to allow this to happen. Questions can be directed to me at mqgpress@q.com. Good Luck! Steve