Question about "frog" type Seal dry mount press

[beatricethecat]

Hi all - I work for a school and we have a very big, older "frog" type dry mount press. It worked for years just fine then something shorted and melted one of the wire nuts inside. Just got around to fixing that and giving it a new power cord and plug (rated for 20A - its 2000W). Powers up fine, gets hot, turns off when at temp (used a thermometer to set the temp knob) but the whole top of the unit gets very hot and I can't recall if this is normal? Not overheated, just very hot. It is designed like a big heatsink + the excess heat needs to go somewhere. But just in case I wanted to ask if anyone has a similar press and if so, does the top get hot? The only other odd thing is bulb in the left "eye" of the frog lights up but its very faint. I tried different bulbs with the same result. Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[ic-racer]

Left bulb, red? That one blinks for timing the press.

 

[beatricethecat]

Left bulb, red? That one blinks for timing the press.

Yes, it is red. I always thought it stayed lit to indicate the press was on, I don't remember it ever blinking, but that's awesome if it's supposed to. Then again, maybe it never lit up properly as the press was a hand-me-down from our papermaking studio. We spent quite awhile buffing the platen back to clean.

 

[ic-racer]

This picture is about 15 year old, but as I recall the device circled is the blinker circuit.

 

[ic-racer]