Heidelberg SM 102 Delivery Gripper Replacement: Step-by-Step

The delivery grippers on a Heidelberg SM 102 are the last set of fingers to touch every sheet before it lands on the pile. They have one job: release the sheet cleanly, at exactly the right moment, so it stacks straight. When they wear, you get dog-eared corners, misregistered stacking, sheets dragging back into the machine, and in bad cases paper jams in the delivery. This guide walks you through replacing worn delivery grippers and pads on an SM 102 — the parts you can change in a normal maintenance window without pulling the delivery chain.

When to replace SM 102 delivery grippers

Delivery gripper wear rarely announces itself with a bang. It shows up gradually in print quality and stacking. Watch for these signs:

• Sheet corners folded or “dog-eared” at the delivery edge — a classic sign of a gripper that no longer releases cleanly.
• Sheets drifting or skewing as they land on the pile, even with the sheet brake and slowdown wheels adjusted correctly.
• Marking on the printed sheet — glazed or flattened gripper pads transfer more pressure to a smaller contact area.
• Hardened or cracked pad material — nylon and urethane pads go brittle with age, ozone, and pressroom chemicals.

If you see any of these, inspect the pads first. The pads are the sacrificial wear surface on the SM 102 delivery gripper, and in most shops replacing the SM102/72 nylon delivery gripper pads cures the problem before the gripper fingers themselves need attention.

Tools and parts you’ll need

• Metric hex keys matching your gripper and bar fixing screws
• A torque-capable driver (refer to your press manual for the correct setting)
• A feeler gauge for checking gripper pressure and release timing
• Isopropyl alcohol or press wash plus a lint-free cloth for cleaning the bar
• Replacement gripper pads and, if needed, gripper fingers

Before ordering, confirm which bar you have. SM 102 delivery bars come in several configurations, and pad geometry differs between them. Take one old pad off and match it physically — thickness, mounting-hole spacing, and profile — rather than ordering from memory.

Step-by-step replacement

Step 1 — Safe the press and access the delivery

Lock out the press, bring the delivery to a position where the gripper bar you are working on is accessible, and remove the delivery covers or guards. Work one gripper bar at a time. If the machine has a non-stop delivery rack or sheet brake installed, make sure it is clear of the bar before you start.

Step 2 — Remove the worn pads

Back off the fixing screws and lift the old pads out. Note the orientation of each pad before removal — most SM 102 pads are handed or have a specific contact edge that must face the sheet. Lay the removed parts out in order so nothing gets mixed between bars.

Step 3 — Clean and inspect the gripper fingers

With the pads off, clean the gripper fingers and the pad seating surface with solvent and a lint-free cloth. Inspect each finger for wear: a grooved or polished contact face, a chipped tip, or a loose hinge means the finger itself is done. If the metal finger is worn, replace it rather than fitting new pads onto a tired finger — the same logic applies to the pincer tip on the SM72/102 pincer gripper used across the delivery and transfer sections.

Step 4 — Fit the new pads

Seat the new pads in the same orientation you noted in Step 2 and run the fixing screws in by hand first. Tighten evenly, working along the bar, then final-torque to your press manual’s specification. Do not overtighten — nylon and urethane pads crush and deform under excess clamp load, which shortens their life and changes gripper pressure.

Step 5 — Check gripper pressure and release timing

After the pads are in, check that each gripper closes with even pressure across the bar. Use a feeler gauge or a strip of paper to confirm every gripper grips and releases consistently. If one gripper releases early or late, adjust the individual gripper spring and the opening cam follower rather than shimming the pad. Delivery timing on the SM 102 is set at the opening cam — get that right and the whole bar releases as one.

Step 6 — Test run and fine-tune

Jog the press slowly through a few sheets and watch the release. Then run up to production speed and check stacking. Make small adjustments one bar at a time. If sheets still mark or fold after the pads are replaced and timed, look next at the transfer grippers — worn SM72/102 impression and transfer urethane grippers often masquerade as delivery problems because the sheet arrives at the delivery already mis-handled.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Replacing pads without checking the fingers. New pads on worn fingers still mark the sheet.
• Mixing pad orientations between bars. Mark each bar and keep parts in order.
• Overtightening the pad screws. Crushed pads change release timing and wear out fast.
• Skipping the timing check. Even pressure means nothing if the bar releases late.

Getting the right parts

Replacement pads and grippers are available for the SM 102/72 range at RelyOffset, including the nylon delivery gripper pads, hardened steel pincer grippers, and transfer grippers mentioned above. Match the part to your bar physically and you will avoid most fitment headaches.

Disclaimer: RelyOffset parts are OEM-compatible aftermarket components. Brand names are trademarks of their respective owners.