Does anyone know who still services the 4B. Mine is in need of a tune-up. It seems to jump the belt once and a while. Makes a couple of noises that my buddies doesn't. Thought a tune-up may help out.
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
Rob,
Although the price of the Gerber "tune up" is around 600.00 ( don't quote me exact ) Cam just got his repaired for that figure I believe.
They go through everything with a fine tooth comb I just had the print head replaced on my Edge and it came back with an updated CPU board, new brushes squeegees and new lift arms. It was like brand New.
That might be too much for practicle reasons, but they will fix it all.
Otherwise I don't know of anybody on the East Coast.
I did hear of a guy on the West Coast that repairs the s750's. Anyone know that guy's name?
Posted by David Fisher (Member # 107) on :
Rob, Can't help you with a service guy but the one time I had a 4B serviced at a shop I was running, the guy came in with a syringe full of lithium disulphide grease (wheel bearing grease), pulled the covers off the servos and shot a little into the various holes in the gearing etc. Then wrote an invoice for $450.00 and I'm talking 1988 dollars. Not happy Jan. I may be shot down in flames for suggesting the DIY approach but I recall the whole process being pretty self evident once the covers were off, at least for a simple complaint like abnormal sounds coming from the servos David
Posted by EmpY (Member # 138) on :
It depends which belt is jumping, so check both the black belt which moves the blade holder in the Y direction and also the orange belt that turns the blade tangentially. If you remove the covers (just one screw on the bottom of those blue boxes) you can see the gears on each side that the black belt gets pushed and pulled by. Chances are this gear has rubber and dust pieces filling up the spaces of the gear teeth. Clean it out with tweezers and or rubbing alcohol. Also blow out all the dust from around the motor position sensors - there's a little slot in a disk like thing that tells the machine where everything is positioned - or maybe it just tells it where the "home" position is...
You can turn the plotter assembly over to get a better view of the orange belt. If it is missing a lot of segments of teeth, it will need to be replaced. If you do not see any broken teeth or segments having teeth missing, it may just be too loose. There is an adjustment screw which will allow you to tighten the tension on the orange belt. I believe you're not supposed to be able to squeeze both sides of the belt between your thumb and first finger more than 1/8" or 3/16". It's been so long I may not have those fractions right but you can call Gerber and they will know.
The only other thing that generally needs servicing after a long period of time is the pad which rides on the cam that raises and lowers the knife blade or pen. Sometimes the surface on the pad wears down and doesn't raise the tool enough. You can loosen the screw on it and just shift it so that a non-worn part of the pad is riding on the cam.
If you do decide to send it to them for service after trying these fixes yourself, make sure you first remove any 3rd party circuit boards you may have added. Circuit boards that allow your Gerber IV-b to receive info from computer design programs have never been looked on favorably by Gerber unless it was the one they themself make.
Posted by Bob Gilliland (Member # 28) on :
Rob,
I believe EmpY provided some sound advice if you wish to tackle it yourself. That machine is a rather simple, yet very dependable and serviceable tank of a plotter. It’s been a while, but I believe the parts that EmpY mentioned are about $80.00 at current list price. Have your preferred Gerber distributor verify part numbers P16715B, P25782A, and P26550B. (both belts and lifting pad)
And yes the current published list price of the flat service repair is $600.00. This doesn’t include shipping to or from.
Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :
Sounds like a loose nut in FRONT of the keyboard to me. You might want to tighten him up!he he he
Posted by Rob Larkham (Member # 2105) on :
BG- Thanks for the part #. I think I will replace all the belts and pad and see what happens. A little oil here and there. As a back-up machine used occasionally I don't need to spend $600 right now. Yes Pat I think it just may be the loose screw in front of the keyboard. Thanks all for your help.
Posted by hitest (Member # 1492) on :
deja vu all over again.....just ordered the listed belt today from ND Graphics (thanks John) Is this timing or Mr. Murphy? ? ? I did'nt have to ask for help....just read the post and my Gerber iv get's it's 10 year treat...lol....thanks for the info
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
Hi Sweetie- My 4B puked out on me last August. After several trying days of waiting for a call-back from the techhie, he told me it would be $600 MINIMUM for Gerber to fix 'er up. After pulling myself off the floor, I called my dear friend Rick Davanzati, Signs by Rick, Butler, PA. He told me that my local sign supplier, Pioneer, had a guy who could help. The man came out within a day, turns out I had a spec of dust in a sensor somewhere. He charged $75. I recommmend blowing the durn thing out w/compressed air regularly, and oiling all those metal bars w/ 3 in 1 oil. Altho I am by no means a professional! But it wouldn't hurt to ask your local supplier if they have a handy type guy or gal who could check out your 4B... Good luck, dude! love- JILL
Posted by Rob Larkham (Member # 2105) on :
Well, tahnks to all for the help on my tune-up. The belts came in today and I'm up and running. A little diffacult putting the big black one on but I made it. She runs reeeeaaalll smooth. Total cost=$86.00. Good for another 100,000 miles( I hope ). Thanks again!!
