Meyer crowner troubleshooting: hopper, chute and crowning heads
A Meyer crowner has three areas that cause most stoppages: the hopper and selector disc that orient the crowns, the chute that delivers them, and the crowning heads that crimp them on. Work from the hopper down.
Hopper selector disc not turning
Likely cause
What to do
Disc jammed by a bent crown or debris
Turn the disc by hand to clear the jam.
Broken springs or worn plates in the safety slip clutch
Replace springs or plates.
Slip clutch too loose
Adjust the slip clutch.
Crowns bent, backwards or not feeding
Likely cause
What to do
Hopper face flat springs set wrong, bent or broken
Adjust or replace the springs.
Too much clearance between disc and hopper face (crowns backwards)
Reduce the clearance.
Too little clearance, wrong agitator springs, or crown dust and lacquer build-up (not enough crowns)
Adjust the clearance and springs; remove the hopper face ring and clean the crown path.
Crowns hanging up in the chute
Likely cause
What to do
Crown dust and lacquer in the chute
Remove the guides and clean the chute.
Worn chute guides
Replace the guides.
Air jet flow or direction wrong
Adjust the air jet.
Chute too high, too low, or the wiper finger set wrong
Reset the chute and wiper finger to the crown rest.
Partial crimps and bottles hanging in the head
Likely cause
What to do
Worn crown rests or crown throat
Replace the rests or throat.
Crowner height wrong for the bottle
Set the crowner height to the shortest bottle.
Weak or broken plunger, throat retainer or compensating spring
Replace the springs.
Center plunger binding in its sleeve
Check and reassemble the plunger parts.
Worn cushion plate
Replace the cushion plate.
Bottles off center under the head or wrong crowner stars
Adjust or change the stars.
Still stuck? Our technicians have spent more than 40 years on Meyer fillers and can usually find the cause faster on site. Call 843-851-3217 or ask about a machine audit.
Line down?
Critical Meyer parts ship from stock, and our technicians can troubleshoot by phone or on site.
