I WON, Praise God. I have been fighting the printing press for weeks now and could not keep it running. I tried everything that I have learned in the last 30 years. The problem was that a small pin in the feeder tube shaft. a $.34 cent roll pin did the job. In all of my 30 years in this industry, I have never seen that problem before. Oh well, live and learn.

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In my case the machine is still winning.
I have some devices that test for entrained air that has been added to concrete. There are 4 toggle over-the-center type of clamps that clamp down the lid. On 2 different devices there is one clamp that releases about 5 seconds after it is applied. I can't figure out how any over-center clamp can release itself. I can see no mis-alignment in the clamp. The clamp clearly does go over-center--then springs back up.
Any ideas?

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

Could the clamp be warped from usage? weak spring? I bet jplinville could answer your question better than me, I'm good with gears pullies and anything that isn't computerized.

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Don't recon it was upset because of the move?

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Jim

Nah, it was that way weeks before the move.

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Try a roll-pin. I understand they're cheap.

Maybe the thought of the move stressed it out.

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Jim

Probably.

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Is it a Forney LA-316? or same type (Testrite, TMC, Exact Air)? It is probably the metal of the clamp or the clip end of the clamp or it could be that they are not "tuned" equally. I spent 6 years doing maintaninence/repair of these for a testing lab and learned that just because all the adjustment thread rods are set at the same thread count, it doesn't mean they are equal. The gasket frequently is not set/distributed evenlky (even though it looks ok) so I would start with ordering a new gasket for the lid and a net set of clamps. Give CMTE a call at 724-528-8507/08 and ask for Tracey, she will help you out. Soil Concrete Cement Asphalt Aggregate Testing Equipment for Construction Materials The firm is owned by an ex Forney VP who quit Forney and started hos own firm and they have all the LA-316 and RollaMeter parts cheaper than anyone else. They also make/sell the LA-316 design under their own brand Exact Air. Tracey and her Husband are good folks and since it is a small firm, you get the benefit of speaking to the Boss every time you call.

If you post a picture of the clamp, that would help. If it's a cheap OTC type of clamp, I'm willing to say no to just replace it.

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1987 560SL
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It's not an off the shelf item. there are 3 different makes of these and all use different clamps.

Fowler, which one is it?

Or is it a white Presstite meter?

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Those look like old timey pressure cookers. Anyone up for some stued pork?

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Using air to force a layer of water down on 1/4 cu ft on wet concrete forces any entrained air out of the concrete and said "freed up" air registers on the gauge. These ain't cheap, run about $650 new but last for years.

I like the last on in the orange case...same idea, smaller package. I own both types plus a third type that uses water and alcohol to do same thing to LW Aggregate concrete without air pressure (Roll a Meter).

Application Specific tools to test to an ASTM Standard...only thing missing is "unobtanium" the elusive element in all Application Specific tools~that's why we have $800 hammers and $12000 dollar toilet seats in government Inventory ;=)

Its the brass toggle.
I know the SS version always cracks right at the bend. Of course, it only does it when some government inspector is staring over your shoulder!
The only thing that is apparent to me is that the hole for the pivot is very close to the edge. I wonder if it could deflect under tension.
I will take your advice, and start from scratch--loosen all clamps and bring them up together so the pressure is even.
I don't have the current ASTM on Roll-O-Meter, but it seems that they used to make changes with every new issuance of the Standard--just to mess you you. When to add the alcohol, changed a few times, IIRC.
When I started with this company, the Owner's brother had calibrated all the Air Meters. The IP in every meter was "0". In all my years, I have never seen even one meter with an IP of 0.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

He filled them with water and then put the top on and filled the air gap until the prtcocks overflowed, closed the petcocks and pumped until the gauge read 0 and released the air into the pot...and since water has aspecific gravity, the gauge reads 0 ! A good basic test to demonstrate it is working but NOT a calibration by any means. buy the 5% air can reference tool from CMTE and use it to set the gauge IP, start with 3% and if you get 8% then 3 is your IP, if its up or down from that then either ad/subract to get new IP but for less than 1% up/down I adjust the needle using the set screw and make the IP 3%.

Brass clamps can get bent so little you cannot see the bend at the lower hook. If a total reset of all 4 clamps does not work, then try using a file and making the inside flat edge at the hook a wee bit deeper at the inside bend, so it is not a true 90 but more like 85. That might do it. also replace the but O ring gasket, they can get hard in an uneven pattern and make the seal not fully equal all round the pot.

I always hated doing the volume reference calibration to establish the actual volume...I just used .25 and figured that the typical truck mixer driver added too much water anyway.

What I hate is when the plant didn't pre soak the LW aggregate to 14% as per spec (more like 6% ) and when they tired to pump the mix, the allowable added water was forced into the LW Aggregate and the mix choked the pump...so they added more water and all of a sudden the 119.5 PCF mix is actually weighing 128.0 PCF! Can you say "deflection"? Cost one contractor his company because he had 2 1/4" deflection on 3 floors and the cost of corrrection with self leveling plus the change order from the MEP installers put him out of business since the Inspector documented it all in the reports.

My usual way of checking the LW Moisture without doing a Microwave test is to sieve out a cup of stone and crack it with a hammer and look at the inside of the shale stone. 14% is roughly 40 to 50% dark grey while 6% is white inside and dark at the rim-like a pecan vs a Peanut M&M.

The new ASTM for ther RollaMeter is almost all alcohol because of all the admixtures of late. My trick to get the concrete to release from the bottom of the pot easily was to spray WD40 on the insides and bottom surface. always worked and the ASTM does not say you can't do it. I still have my old Welles Bronze Roll a Meter..weighs a ton but always works.

Anyway, if you have to call CMTE for parts, feel free to use my name...Tracey and I are old friends.