| | Frequency | Lubricant Type | Manual Reference | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Main gearbox | Every 1,500 hours | Shell Tellus 68 (or equivalent) | Page 48 | | Chain gripper bearings | Daily (before shift) | SAE 30 non-detergent oil | Page 12 | | Pneumatic cylinder rods | Weekly | Lithium grease (sparingly) | Page 34 | | Glue roller bearings | Monthly | High-temp bearing grease | Page 59 | | Cam followers | Every 500 hours | EP 90 gear oil (drip feed) | Page 63 |
Here is a summary based on original manual data:
Be wary of eBay listings selling “Kolbus DA 36 Manual” for over $200. Many are low-resolution photocopies missing the critical fold-out schematics. Always ask the seller for a photo of the electrical appendix. Part 6: How to Interpret German Technical Terms in the Manual Most original Kolbus manuals were written in German, with English versions being second editions. If you only have access to a German scan, here are essential terms you will encounter:
This article serves as an exhaustive resource. Whether you are a seasoned bookbinder looking for specific torque settings, a maintenance engineer tracing a jam error, or a collector seeking to understand the original specifications, this guide will explain everything you need to know about locating, interpreting, and utilizing the Kolbus DA 36 Manual. To appreciate the manual, one must first appreciate the machine. Introduced in the late 1960s and produced through the early 1980s, the Kolbus DA 36 was developed as a successor to purely mechanical casers. It bridged the gap between manual hand-binding and fully automated line integration.
| | English Translation | Context in DA 36 Manual | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Deckenanleger | Case feeder | Adjusting the suction arm timing | | Rückenleimwerk | Spine gluing unit | Roller temperature and viscosity settings | | Falzrinne | Joint forming groove | The critical gap between nipping rollers | | Druckschiene | Pressing rail | The bar that applies final pressure to the hinge | | Greiferkette | Gripper chain | Transport system for the book block | | Stillsetzung | Emergency stop | Diagram location for the safety circuit |
As of 2025, spare parts for the DA 36 are still available through specialty suppliers (e.g., Renz Group, Bielomatik), but only if you can quote the correct part number from the manual. The manual also empowers in-house technicians to rebuild glue rollers, re-time camshafts, and adjust pneumatic timers—tasks that would otherwise require a factory-trained specialist costing $200/hour plus travel.
Introduction: Why the Kolbus DA 36 Manual Still Matters In the world of industrial hardcover bookbinding, few names command as much respect as Kolbus . The German manufacturer’s line of casing-in machines represents the gold standard of mid-century to late-20th-century book production. Among its most celebrated workhorses is the Kolbus DA 36 , an automatic casing-in machine designed for medium to large-scale binderies.
However, owning a classic piece of machinery like the DA 36 comes with a unique challenge: the machine is only as reliable as the documentation that supports it. This is where the becomes indispensable. Without this document, operators are flying blind—unable to calibrate joint formation, adjust roller pressure, or diagnose the pneumatic logic that gives this machine its legendary precision.
