DSF

Have you seen this - may help http://www.aadkins.com/images/PDFs/manu ... i_mini.pdf if it were me i'd either go for my money back from the seller or if not an option then take it to Adkins locally for a refurb quote. If you come out having spent about £200-300 reconditioning you've still got a good press at a good price. One thing that can go on them that makes them tricky to close and catch on the pivot is a small exposed spring at the back, if missing push down on the front of the top plate as you close it to see if that helps it move on the pivot and close.

when our press had "oval holes" we got our friend who is a fabricator to weld new plate over the top with circular holes cut, he also deduced that the arm needed a bar across to stop the handle from slightly twisting as it went down, £20 and fixed.

You live not far from me, and I would still drive mine up there to be fixed, as they look it all over and give it a clean bill of health once they have done so, perhaps treat it as a couple of days away

the older ones are UK made and better than the newer chineese ones.
It's worth a fix
P