Better Pack ® 555 Complete Service Guide

Tigerseal® Products - The Tape Machine Company since 1983

Better Pack® 555

Not Cutting Tape

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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

Obviously, the most probable cause when a tape machine is not cutting the tape properly is worn shears. But, other possibilities include:

Glue Build Up On Upper Shear

Lower Shear Not Adjusted Properly

Worn Shear Spring -replace when installing new Shear Kit

If the Upper Shear (or Moveable Shear) is sharp, but has glue build-up, clean it (see below)

If the Upper Shear Is Clean, But Feels Dull - Replace It (see below)

If the tape is not being cut cleanly, yet the shear feels sharp, check & adjust the lower shear (see below)

Before Any Maintenance Procedure - UNPLUG THE MACHINE

Not Cutting - Worn/Dirty Shears

Cleaning or Replacing Shears 

Service Figures 14 & 15 below

The correct method to clean the shears is the same method used to replace them. When replacing shears, order Shear Kit 600ShearKitKXX (Ref FM20BXK). The kit includes both the Upper & Lower Shear, lower shear springs, and connecting rod & nut. Also recommended replacing Shear Spring -600ShearSpring (Ref E585C)  (not inc. in 600ShearKitKXX)

To clean or replace shears -

You will first need to remove the following parts: 

Water Bottle & Tank

Lower Shelf - 300TSSG (Ref FM3E)

Shear Spring - 600ShearSpring (Ref E585C)

Top Heater 900SH3PPWXX (Ref TH55PXXX) & Heater Rod - 700PRC (Ref E580SA) & Shear Rollers 700THBR (Ref FM18)

Removal

1 The Upper Shear is connected to the Yoke Assembly by a Pin (or rod) 

    The rod goes through the yoke & upper shear and is threaded 

    on the left side. A shake proof nut  is located on the left side

    of the rod, between the yoke & frame. 

Service Figure 14 below. Begin by loosening this nut first. Once loose, you can 

    then use a slotted screw driver to turn the rod. Remove the rod.

2. Remove the Upper Shear next by pulling it down and towards you.

3. Next, pop both Lower Shear Springs  off the frame pins. 

    The Lower Shear is held in by only these springs. The lower shear rests in 

    2 brackets found on the left & right frame assy.

4. Remove the Lower Shear by pulling it up and out through the Lower Tape 

    Plate 700LTPSS (Ref FM11AX) 

5. To Clean The Shears - First, use a cleaning agent to get the dust & dirt off. 

    Next, we find the WD-40 works well in getting the dry glue off the shears. 

    Spray and let soak for a minute.

Installation

1. Replace Lower Shear First. Drop in through Lower Tape Plate. 

    MAKE SURE  that the Lower Shear is situated between both left & right 

    frame brackets (small L shaped brackets)

2. Replace Lower Shear Springs on frame pins (left & right side)

3. Slide Upper Shear in from front of machine. You will need to push Lower 

    Shear back for Upper Shear to go up through the Lower Tape Plate in

     front of Lower Shear.

4. Align Upper Shear so you can install Upper Shear Rod. Rod goes through 

    right side of yoke, shear, and threads  through left side of yoke. 

5. Start screwing rod until it just comes through left side of yoke, then screw 

    shake proof nut onto rod.

6. Tighten.

7. Replace Shear Spring then Lower Shelf then Top Heater (don't forget FM18 Rollers!)

Service Figure 14

Upper Shear/Yoke

Service Figure 15

Lower Shear -

view from rear of machine tape basket area.

NOTE L shaped brackets that hold Lower Shear on either frame

Not Shown - Lower Shear Springs

Not Cutting - Shears Clean & Sharp

Service Figure 16 below

The Lower Shear is adjustable. It can be moved slightly closer to or further away 

from the Upper Shear. Generally speaking, the original factory setting should never

need adjusting. However, from time to time we have found that the lower shear has

moved out of adjustment.

To Adjust Lower Shear

1. Facing the front of the machine, push back the Shear Oiler

2. Look down and you'll see the top of the Lower Shear. A gap of 

    approximately 1/32" should be visible between the Upper & Lower Shears 

    on the left hand side

3. If no spacing is visible or the spacing is incorrect, locate the adjusting 

    screw (phillips head screw & washer)) on the right frame (located just

     under Motor Cover).

4. Loosen the screw just enough so you can move it. Move it up for more space, 

    down  for less.

Helpful Hint - Rarely do we have  to adjust the Lower Shear. If a machine does have 

clean, sharp shears and is not cutting, we will first try to adjust the lower shear.

The movement is very slight. We first loosen the screw, move it up as far 

as possible, re-tighten, and try cutting a piece of tape. If it still doesn't cut

 properly, we try going half way down on the adjustment, and so on till we 

get to the bottom of the adjustment.

Service Figure 16

Adjusting Lower Shear

If you have any questions about any of the above procedures,

please feel free to call us at 1-800-899-9389.

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