Better Pack ® 555 Complete Service Guide

Tigerseal® Products - The Tape Machine Company since 1983

Better Pack® 555

Feeds Long tape Strips

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When you press a length switch, the machine should dispense that length within 1/4". If lengths are longer then the length selected, first determine if the longer lengths are erratic. For example, the 18" key dispenses 20", 23" etc. Or, are the longer lengths consistent. For example, the 18" key always dispenses 19", 29" etc.

Before Any Maintenance Procedure - UNPLUG THE MACHINE

1. Erratic Longer Lengths

The most common causes - in order

A. Clutch Roller -500CRGSLX (Ref EA52AXX) is either worn or out of adjustment.  

B. Trip Roller - 400TripRoller (REF E538AXX) is either worn or out of adjustment

C. Key Switch -300KSAK (Ref E501LX) broken/defective.

A. Out of Adjustment/Worn Clutch Roller - See Service Figure 5 Below

Tools Required: Retaining Ring Pliers/Needle Nose Pliers

1. Star by removing the Key Drum and Access Hole Cover (total: 5 screws)

2. Remove Water Bottle & Tank

3. The Clutch Roller is the rubber roller with the attached gear that sits just 

    above the big Measuring Wheel. The rubber on this roller should be hard, 

    not soft. There should be no worn marks, cracks, or lines in this roller. 

    If there is, it needs to be replaced.

TO REPLACE:

    Remove snap ring and spacer washer. Slide off old roller, slide on new roller. 

    Replace spacer washer & snap ring.

TO ADJUST

    There is a quick way to check to see if the Clutch Roller is correctly 

    adjusted. Reach inside the front of the machine and push up on the 

    Yoke Assembly. This is the device that holds the Upper Shear. Pushing

     up on the Yoke will raise the Upper Shear. When the Upper Shear goes

    up, the Clutch Roller comes down, making contact with the Measuring Wheel.  

    With the Yoke pushed up, it should be difficult to turn the Measuring Wheel, 

    since the Clutch Roller is in contact with it. If you can easily turn the 

    Measuring Wheel, you'll need to adjust the Clutch Roller.

1. Locate the Clutch Connecting Rod -400ClutchRodXX (Ref EA57)see Service Figure 5 below). 

    The Rod is located behind the Measuring Wheel. You can see the top of the 

    Rod coming up from behind the Measuring Wheel. 

2. The Rod can be turned to raise or lower the Clutch Roller. With the Needle 

    Nose Pliers, turn the tip of the Rod clockwise to lower the Clutch Roller. 

    This will prevent the Measuring Wheel from slipping when the Yoke comes up.

     A clearance of 1/32" is recommended between the Clutch Roller & 

    Measuring Wheel. 

CAUTION: Be careful not to bend the L-Spring that holds the Clutch Rod in position. If this spring is bent, the Rod will turn by the vibration of the machine and will require constant adjusting.   

Can You Lower The Clutch Roller Too Much ?

    Yes! If the Clutch Roller is lowered too far, the machine will "drag" or 

    seem to run slower. This creates extra wear. Here's a quick way to check: 

    First, adjust the Clutch Roller to where it makes good contact with the

     Measuring Wheel. Next, turn the Measuring Wheel by hand all the way 

    around. Release it. The Clutch Roller should not move or vibrate. When the 

    Yoke is down, the Clutch Roller should not make any contact with the 

    Measuring Wheel.    

Service Figure 5

Adjustment For Clutch Roller

B. Out of Adjustment/Worn Trip Roller - See Service Figure 6 Below

Tools Required: Retaining Ring Pliers/5/16" Long Arm Allen Wrench

1. Start by removing the  Access Hole Cover on the side of the Key Drum.

checking the trip roller

2. Press all Key Switches down

3. By hand, turn the Measuring Wheel and see if all of the Key Switches 

    shut off (buttons pop up). Hold the Measuring Wheel at the end position

4. Release the Measuring Wheel to make sure that it returns to home position

     with no obstructions.

Checking The Trip Roller

To check the condition of the Trip Roller - 400TripRoller  .(Ref  E538AXX) it is best to remove the Key Drum. The Trip Roller is attached to the Trip Arm. The Trip Arm has 2 set screws that hold it onto the Measuring Wheel. The Trip Roller is a black rubber roller that comes into contact with the Key Switched. When a switch is pressed down, it hits it, pressing it up (or off). The rubber on this roller should be hard. If it is soft, or has grooves in it, replace it.

1. Using the Retaining Ring Pliers, remove the retaining ring and spacer washer. 

    The Trip Roller will slide off.

2. Replace Trip Roller, spacer washer, and retaining ring.

3. With the new Trip Roller installed, replace Key Drum and perform the 

    "Checking The Trip Roller" Procedure again 

Adjusting Trip Arm

    If you find that the Trip Roller is still not pushing all of the Key Switches off, 

    or if the Measuring Wheel is not returning to home position, you will need

     to adjust the Trip Arm ( see Service Figure 5 below)

1. Loosen the Trip Arm Cap Screws

2. If the Trip Arm is not shutting off all of the Key Switches, move the 

    Trip Arm slightly away from the hub of the Measuring Wheel.

3.  If the Trip Arm is binding on any of the key switches, move the Trip Arm 

    closer to the hub of the Measuring Wheel. This adjustment may take several

     tries to get the Trip Arm positioned just right.

CAUTION: The Trip Arm adjustment is very slight. We adjust and tighten only one cap screw until we find the perfect position. Once we set the Trip Arm, we then tighten both cap screws. 

4. Finally, tighten both cap screws and replace Access Hole Cover.

Service Figure 6 Adjusting Trip Arm

Loosen 2 caps screws on Trip Arm #6.

Move Trip Arm out to make better contact with each

Key Switch. If Trip Roller binds on key switches move

Trip Arm closer to Measuring Wheel .

1

C.  Broken/Defective Key Switch

A broken or defective Key Switch can also cause erratic long lengths. A broken switch can cause the Trip Roller to "hang up" and keep the machine feeding tape. Check each Key Switch. If necessary, remove the plastic color cap and make sure the knurled nut is securely holding the Key Switch. If the knurled nut is missing or falls off, the key switch is probably broken and should be replace. 

Replacing Broken Key Switches

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

2. The Key Switch is screwed into 2 buss wires -300KSWire (Ref E501BW). Remove the 

    2 screws, one on either side of the switch.

3. Turn the switch until you can slide it out from under the Buss Wires.

4. Place the spring washer on the new Key Switch

5. Install the new Key Switch so that the screw holes on either side of 

    the switch are under the 2 buss wires.

6. It is easier to install the knurled nut first before screwing in the key switch screws.

7. With the knurled nut screwed on the key switch, screw in the 2 small 

    key switch screws.

Is there an easy way to screw those 2 little screws into the key switch?

No! Actually, there is a screw driver that holds those small screws. If you don't have one,  apply a very small amount of glue onto the end of the screw driver, let it stand for a moment, and then put the screw onto the end of the glue tipped screw driver. This holds the small screw so you can get it started into the screw hole.

1. Consistent Longer Lengths 

see Service Figure 7 & 8 below

Consistent long lengths are usually caused by incorrect adjustment of the Bumper Plate Part 300BRPX (Ref EA3BX)  on 555 S Models or 555-EL3 on 555 L Models.

Adjusting Bumper Plate

ON  S Model- Service Figure 7

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 counter-clockwise direction to shorten tape lengths, For example, if the 12"

   key is dispensing 13", this adjustment will correct this problem. It deducts the

     same amount from all key switches.

ON  L Models - See Service Figure 8

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

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

    clockwise to shorten tape lengths. For example, if the

   12" key is dispensing 13" this will correct that problem.

Service Figure 7

S Model Length Adjustment - Model from 6"-36"

Service Figure 8

L Model Length Adjustment -Model from 36"-6"

Loosen cap screw on Bumper Plate (Figure 9)

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

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

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