RYOBI 3304 ( 4 color ) problems

david caddy

Member
Joined
2017
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8
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Harrisburg Pennsylvani
The Ryobi 3304 recently purchased ( used ) for my employer has the worst watering conditions I have ever encountered in all my years as a press operator. I have ran large and small format 4 color presses in my career and I have ran this 3304 brand new in 2000- 2005 and it seems you cannot keep perfect water to ink combo. Especially start and stopping the press takes almost 100 sheets to get evened out. The water seems to drip in different locations on different heads as you run creating wash-outs in your colors - did everything from NEW METERING ROLLERS new INK FORMS cleaning with MRC - Chrome cleaning. The problem seems to be DRIPS - running water controls down to 2 - any higher makes it worse......does anyone have any suggestions ???? I also have great support from our local Techs - however unless we pay them to come in I cannot continue the STOCK WASTE .........also have a fit issue - taking to long and stretching beyond what I should to get my CMYK to fit.........THANKS...........Caddy the best press operator on the East and West Shores of the Susquehanna River in Lemoyne Pennsylvania.....................................HELP
 
  • We find that aftermarket water rollers are basically garbage. The oem rollers are expensive but will run way better, especially the metering roller. Also I've had to turn down the water pressure coming out of the metal pan tubes quite a bit to avoid it forcing drips over the oposite edge of the pan.

    Hope you sort it all out.
     
    heres how I set are Ryobi dampners. First set the water oscillator with the form.(have to ink up oscillator using bridge roller no water)2.5 ml stripe. 2nd-waterform to plate. 4ml stripe. 3rd-water oscillator to metering roller 2.5 ml stripe. 4th-water oscillator to metering, open up until uniform all across. then close evening until no beading ,once closed even an extra 4 clicks each side.
    fit issues- even pressures all units, make sure the ink tensioning roller are clean especially on the ends. I keep my dampening solution very clean and conductivity below 1200. Hope this helps!
     
    Addressing the fit issue. I've run the 3304HA which has semi automatic plate loaders which if kept clean, lubed and zeroed out will give excellent register. If you have a press with old style manual plate clamps then stretching is going to be an issue especially with poly plates.
     
    The Ryobi 3304 recently purchased ( used ) for my employer has the worst watering conditions I have ever encountered in all my years as a press operator. I have ran large and small format 4 color presses in my career and I have ran this 3304 brand new in 2000- 2005 and it seems you cannot keep perfect water to ink combo. Especially start and stopping the press takes almost 100 sheets to get evened out. The water seems to drip in different locations on different heads as you run creating wash-outs in your colors - did everything from NEW METERING ROLLERS new INK FORMS cleaning with MRC - Chrome cleaning. The problem seems to be DRIPS - running water controls down to 2 - any higher makes it worse......does anyone have any suggestions ???? I also have great support from our local Techs - however unless we pay them to come in I cannot continue the STOCK WASTE .........also have a fit issue - taking to long and stretching beyond what I should to get my CMYK to fit.........THANKS...........Caddy the best press operator on the East and West Shores of the Susquehanna River in Lemoyne Pennsylvania.....................................HELP
    like previous post said, get OEM metering roller and make sure you have the right plate, right means the rip has been correctly calibrated with correct output profile
     
    We find that aftermarket water rollers are basically garbage. The oem rollers are expensive but will run way better, especially the metering roller. Also I've had to turn down the water pressure coming out of the metal pan tubes quite a bit to avoid it forcing drips over the oposite edge of the pan.

    Hope you sort it all out.
    ABSOLUTELY MY FIRST THOUGHT when I saw the water levels and the horrible valves on the press that our water levels were too high.......and imagine this my co worker has been on the press this week and has little problems - - found out another associate replaced the VALVES giving us better control on water FLOW............WOW .......................and absolutely agree on water system sucks.........................I have run all types large and small format 4 - 6 color printing presses and this system was imagined to operate like a larger press and was never able to conform to that.......ie - stress....
     
    Addressing the fit issue. I've run the 3304HA which has semi automatic plate loaders which if kept clean, lubed and zeroed out will give excellent register. If you have a press with old style manual plate clamps then stretching is going to be an issue especially with poly plates.

    yea-manual plate clamps - try to avoid stretch as much we can..........also helps not to have plates come out all over the place = we even have to cut our own plates down to ( I believe its 450mm ) which doesn't help guess plates are on a roll......................ugh !
     
    OEM-Original Equipment Manufacturer. I've tried the aftermarket(syntac, lithoroll etc.) and they are hit or miss, usually miss. The OEM rollers are much more expensive but with the water system being the heart of this machine its worth the extra cost. The two water rollers cost just as much or maybe a little more than the rubber ink rollers per head.
     
    Check the metering rollers for end play, It would be worth paying your local tech support to come and sort all this for you.
     
    Check the metering rollers for end play, It would be worth paying your local tech support to come and sort all this for you.
    AS I HAVE and would continue to do so because my TECH support guy from GE RICHARDS is the best and a friend - - however my company things their dinosaur of an operator-mechanic can fix and it has been and still will not be correct. I moved on to the SILK SCREENING Dept now and trying to HELP them out.....................thank you for responding.........................now i need an expert on the Automatic Silk Screening Press
     
    AS I HAVE and would continue to do so because my TECH support guy from GE RICHARDS is the best and a friend - - however my company things their dinosaur of an operator-mechanic can fix and it has been and still will not be correct. I moved on to the SILK SCREENING Dept now and trying to HELP them out.....................thank you for responding.........................now i need an expert on the Automatic Silk Screening Press
    sorry - - company THINKS
     
    We have one of the best techs out there for solving these types of issues, he travels and has a great record for ALL Ryobi issues. We also carry in stock OEM Forms & Meters for the Ryobimatic system. Another option is go with Crestlines, expensive but pay for themselves pretty fast if you run the press daily. We can sell you new and occasionally have used for sale.
    Ring me up and I can share the info.
    Paul
    Ryobi Press Parts
    517-881-7114
     
    It would help to know exactly what problems as well as which press you have: 3304, 3304H, 3304HA? Does it have the PCS console? Ryobimatic water system? etc...
     
  • Hi sir
    This problems is 4 areas:
    1) Bad make ready from operator
    2) Supply Not Good quality?
    3) Press with Mechanical/Pneumatic disadjusments
    4) Press with Electrical/Electronic/Software Problem
    Please be sure and Let us know.
     
    It would help to know exactly what problems as well as which press you have: 3304, 3304H, 3304HA? Does it have the PCS console? Ryobimatic water system? etc...
    I have RYOBI 3304 HA alcohol damping system and I m also facing problems of CMYK registration. If anyone have contact of RYOBI mechanic then it would be helpful to share.
     
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