Maintenance
Plucking Plates
The plates are pressed together by the rollers.
These are mounted inside each of the two hinged plate covers. The plate
overs are secured top and bottom by tension rods, springs, and thumd nuts.
The pressure on the plates can be increased by tightening the thumb nuts.
Adjustment of the thumb nuts should always leave the plates running centrally,
e.g. if the plates appear to be offset to the right, then tighten the right hand
thumb nut and slacken the left hand thumb nut, and vice versa.
There should be only sufficient pressure on the plates to grip the feathers -
greater pressure is unnecessary and will cause accelerated wear on the plates,
rollers, and drive square.
Remove the plates at the end of every working week, clean and grease the machine
generally. A little paraffin mixed with oil, rubbed on the plates, will
prove very effective at removing anything which adheres.
To remove the plates, unscrew the thumb nuts from the tension rods, and remove the
rods. The left hand plate cover can then swing back on its hinge and the plates
can be slipped off the drive square.
When replacing the plates they should be put back on in numerical order. Put a
little grease on the rocking pads of each plate, and also smear a little grease
around each end plate where the rollers will run. Start with the No.0 Bakelite
plate and finish with the No.9 Bakelite plate. The No.0 plate is fitted
with the flat metal disc facing inwards. All the small drilled holes,
(which can be found next to the numbers stamped on the plates themselves), should
line up with those on the preceding plate.
If 2 or 3 pumps from a grease gun are applied to the grease nipple at the end of the
plate drive spindle every hour the plates can move freely, plucking is
improved, and wear is reduced to a minimum.
To clean behind the plucking plates, (within the spout), unscrew the inspection cover
provided by the suction fan to gain access.
Note: Plate no.s 1, 4, and 7 are interchangeable.
Plate no.s 2, 5, and 6 are interchangeable. Plate no.s 3 and 6 are
interchangeable. Plates are not interchangeable outside of these groups.
Back to top
Bakelite Rocking Pads
To renew the rocking pads, knock out the old pads with
a punch, via the holes provided in the back of the plate. The new pads will
be found to be slightly larger than the holes now exposed. Placing the
plate on a firm surface, and giving a sharp blow, force the pad home.
Alternatively they can be pressed in with the aid of a vice.
Main Spindle Drive Square
After having slipped the plates off of the drive square,
(see Plucking Plates above), use a grease gun to
apply grease to the nipple at the end of the main spindle until the cavity within
the drive square is filled, and grease appears through the small holes drilled in
its four sides. When it is seen that the grease is coming out of these
holes freely, smear it all over the outside of the square and then replace the
plucking plates.
Note: It is not sufficient to grease the
drive square at the start of a day's work and expect this to last all day long.
The wearing surfaces are hardened and if kept lubricated, (via the
nipple at the end of the shaft), will last for a long time. If they are allowed
to run dry however, they will soon become damaged and the rate at which wear
occurs will accelerate. It is very important therefore, that lubrication of
the drive square be attended to with the greatest of care. When the machine is
used as a finisher to wet plucking greasing every hour is essential.
The rollers are packed with grease and will run for a considerable time without
replenishment. If it is necessary to remove the drive square for any reason,
simply undoing the locknut on the end of the main spindle will release it.
Back to top
Fan Covers
Two covers are provided to give access to the fan, (the
'kidney' plates). The interior of the casing should be periodically
inspected. Any accumulation of feathers and stubs on the inside of the fan
casing should be very carefully removed. Be sure to replace covers
before running the machine; a considerable safety hazard exists if
the machine is run without all of the guards and covers supplied fitted correctly.
Belts
New belts are prone to stretch in a short
period of time, and should be readjusted after the first week's use. Always
make sure that the belts are not slipping on the pulleys.
Greasing
Employ a grease gun regularly, using a good quality
ball bearing grease, on the following:
Main bearing, via grease nipple to rear of main fan casing.
Main spindle drive square on which plates are mounted. This grease
nipple can be reached via the hole in the center of the plucking plate
door casting.
Pulley bearings, via their respective grease nipples.
It pays to take care of your plucker - it will repay you by giving longer wear
and better service.
