Joe wrote:
> I have a blue floor corker with brass jaw that I purchased at a garage sale.
> When it works, it works great but 25% of the time it leaves 1/2" of the cork
> protruding on top.
> The arm is very stiff so I cleaned it and oiled the moving parts (except the
> jaw). It seems the slightly bent rod sometimes misses the opening of the
> jaw and hits the side. I think this is why every once in a while I get left
> with a protruding cork.
> Has anyone run into this before? Is there a prescribed maintenance for
> these corkers? What on earth is the chain in the back that connects the
> bottle platform to the arm and how do you adjust it?
>
> thanks
> Joe

If it is like mine, the chain on the back locks the platform that the
bottle sits on. With the handle up, the platform's spring holds the
bottle up. When you start to press down on the handle, the platform
locks the bottle in place so the cork can be pressed in.

If the plunger is hitting the sides of the part that compresses the
cork, make sure that there is no side-to-side play on the handle.
Maybe the bolt or rivet that holds it at the hinge point has come
loose.

The only thing I would change on mine is to make the platform come up
another inch or so. Mine won't do the little 12 oz bottles without
some kind of shim under it.

Hope this helps!

Alex.