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

There should be a nut on the top of the bar that pushes the cork it. This
is used to adjust how far it pushes in. Sounds like maybe that nut is miss
adjusted or missing. If it were missing the corker certainly would not push
the cork in far enough and would probably leave a half inch or more out of
the bottle. Check it.

Ray

"Joe" > wrote in message
.. .
>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
>

The arm should not be stiff and those jaws get food grade grease. They
are held in with springs and under a lot of pressure. If you decide to
take it apart mark where they came from. Mine has no chain and is
blue, it's from Ferrari in Italy; it looks like this:

http://www.williamsbrewing.com/FERRA...RKER_P1301.cfm

Joe

Thanks for the suggestions.
I have a slightly smaller one very similar to your as shown.

http://www.homebrewit.com/aisle/1042

It has a one piece arm. It has quite a bit of sideways play. Maybe it is
just my stroke?



"Joe Sallustio" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> The arm should not be stiff and those jaws get food grade grease. They
> are held in with springs and under a lot of pressure. If you decide to
> take it apart mark where they came from. Mine has no chain and is
> blue, it's from Ferrari in Italy; it looks like this:
>
> http://www.williamsbrewing.com/FERRA...RKER_P1301.cfm
>
> Joe
>

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.

Hi Alex

My floor corker sounds similar to your model. I have checked the
connections and put a drop of oil on them.

I think my problem is the brass jaw. As I mentioned it appears stiff when I
am bringing the handle down and the jaw starts getting compressed. I put a
little Vaseline (the only food grade grease I can find) on the jaws but
either the jaws are too dirty or it still needs time to work in.

I think the only way to resolve this is to take the jaw apart and clean it.
Joe Sallustio mentioned that it is spring loaded and some what complicated.
I wonder if their are instructions on doing this or if anyone has attempted
this before?

thanks

Joe

"Alex" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> 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.
>