Better Pack ® 555 Complete Service Guide

Tigerseal® Products - The Tape Machine Company since 1983

Better Pack® 555

Tape Machine Feed Short Tape Strips

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Tigerseal Products features a complete line of quality replacement parts (with a full one year warranty against defects in material and workmanship for your

Better Packages 555. Please visit our on line Replacement Parts Guide

If you find that your machine is feeding short tape lengths, for example, the 18" key does not dispense the full 18" you first should determine whether the short strips are consistent. For example, is the 18" key always dispensing 17". Or, are the short lengths erratic. For example, the 18" key might dispense 17" or 14" or 15" etc.

Before Any Maintenance Procedure - UNPLUG THE MACHINE

1. Erratic Short Lengths

The most common cause is a worn Upper Feed Wheel     or  incorrect adjustment on the Lower Feed Wheel .

To Replace Upper Feed Wheel: See Figure 1 Below

Tools Required: 3/32" Allen Wrench / Phillips Screw Driver / Hammer / Small Punch

*Replace Feed Wheel If Surface Of Wheel Is Smooth

1.  Remove both the Key Drum  and Motor & Chain Cover

     The Key Drum has a screw at each corner, plus one screw for

     the Access Hole Cover (remove total 5 screws)  The Motor Cover has 3 screws.

2.  Remove water bottle & tank.

3.  Loosen the 2 set screws on the Upper Feed Wheel, 1 set screw on Feed Wheel

     Shaft Sprocket  This sprocket holds the motor

     chain Loosen 1 set screw on sprocket. 

4.  With the hammer & punch drive the groov pin out of gear -500PGear (Ref EA47)

5.  Remove Chain Sprocket

6.  Very gently, tap the Upper Feed Wheel shaft from left  to right (facing front

     of machine). Tap the shaft using the punch through gear -500PGear (Ref EA47). This gear

     should now be on the end of the punch.

7.  Slide the shaft out until the spacer washer & collar come off. Then slide it

     slightly further until you can slide the old feed wheel off.

8.  Slide the new Feed Wheel on. Slide the collar & spacer washer on next. Push

     the shaft back through the right frame and clutch plate assy. Slide gear

     500PGear  back on end of shaft. Align hole in gear with hole in shaft and

     drive groov pin -500GPIN ( Ref EA51) back into gear & shaft. Replace Chain Sprocket.

9.  Tighten set screw  on Chain Sprocket. Note that the Upper Feed Wheel Shaft

     has a flat spot where the Chain Sprocket goes on. Make sure set screw is

    tightened onto this flat surface.

10. Tighten collar -500CollarXX (Ref K37 X). HINT: Push the collar over against the spacer

     washer & frame. We found that you should tighten the collar down but leave

    about 1/32" gap between the collar and frame. The shaft should have just a

    slight left-to-right movement.

11. Finally, align the Upper Feed Wheel so it is centered over the Lower Feed

     Wheel. Tighten both set screws on the Upper Feed Wheel

Before re-installing covers: Are set screws on Chain Sprocket/Feed Wheel/Collar tight ? Is groov pin through  pinion gear and Upper Feed Wheel Shaft?

If the Upper Feed Wheel appears to be in good shape, that is, it has grooves in the surface, but the machine is still feeding erratic short lengths, you need to adjust the lower feed wheel.

SERVICE FIGURE 1 - upper feed wheel parts

To Adjust Lower Feed Wheel - See Service Figure 2 Below

Tools Required: 3/32" Allen Wrench  - Long (or T) Handle

1.  Remove tape from tape basket.

2.  Against the back wall (or Vertical Tie Plate) you'll see a small circular cut-out.

     Look through this cut-out. You'll see the head of a 3/32" set screw. This screw

     adjusts the height of the Lower Feed Wheel -600LFWXX (Ref E828XX).

3.  Insert the Allen Wrench into the set screw. To raise Lower Feed Wheel

     so it makes better contact with the Upper Feed Wheel, turn the Allen

    Wrench clockwise.

4.  CAUTION: Turn the Allen Wrench no more then 1 full turn and test the

     tape feed. Raising the Lower Feed Wheel more then required creates

      wear and can cause tape jams!

5.   If the set screw appears loose (easy to turn) you can remove the screw

      and put some LockTite or similar substance on it to keep it from backing out.

Can You Raise The Lower Feed Wheel Too High ?

Yes. If you do, you will notice that the tape is bent over  Facing the front of the machine, the tape will have a slight bend on the left side.

Why Does This Happen?

As you raise the Lower Feed Wheel you decrease the travel height of the Upper Shear. If you notice that the tape is bending over and the tape is still slipping, the Lower Feed Wheel Assy 600LFWXX (Ref E626XX) should be replaced. Contact us. You might want to send it in for service. The frames have to be removed to replace the Lower Feed Wheel Assy. For more information on our service, click here.

Service Figure 2 - Adjusting Lower Feed Wheel

2. Consistent Short Lengths -

                                                     see Service Figures 3 & 4 Below

Consistent short lengths are usually caused by incorrect adjustment of the Bumper Plate Part

The adjustment is fairly simple.

ON "S" Model- Service Figure 3

1. Remove the Key Drum & Access Hole Cover (total 5 screws)

2.Loosen Cap Screw  with LN-26 Hex Screw Driver. Move the Bumper

   Plate in a clockwise direction to shorten tape lengths, For example, if the 12"

   key is dispensing 11", this adjustment will correct this problem. It adds the

     same amount to all key switches.

ON 555 L Models - See Service Figure 4

1. Remove Key Drum & Access Hole Cover (total 5 screws)

2. Loosen Cap Screw  Move the Bumper Plate  Bumper Cup Arm

 counter clockwise to lengthen tape lengths. For example, if the

   12" key is dispensing 11" this will correct that problem.

Figure 3 & 4 adjustments may take several tries to get the exact length you want. 

Service Figure 3

 "S" Length Adjustment

Service Figure 4

 "L" Length Adjustment

For more information on these models, please call us at 1-899-899-9389.

TIGERSEAL PRODUCTS sales & service

13093 Old Ridge Road

Beaverdam VA 23015

Tigerseal Products is not affiliated with MCM/Phoenix

Tigerseal Products is not affiliated with Better Packages Inc