The model B Ampico has an excellent tracking system, and to make
alterations to the tracker ears will cause much grief. (If you don't
believe me try it!) They are extremely difficult to adjust, and if not
done properly will oscillate and start up a buzzing sound if set too
lightly. If your model B is tracking ok, don't try to make
improvements because once disturbed the tracking can, and will get
worse, and it could take weeks or months to get it adjusted properly
again. In the 45 years that I worked on Ampicos I never encountered
roll tearing caused by tracker ears!

The reason the model B Ampico tears rolls is because of the felt-metal
band on a pot metal drum brake on the take-up spool.(It was not
designed for old fragile rolls)  Between intermittent tightening
during rewind, the automatic tightening system is too slow to respond
and drags slightly between the stop and starts, thus putting too much
tension on old fragile rolls during rewind. This causes the paper to
run into the flange of the roll and tear.  Simply disconnect this loop
in the brake and see that the take up spool bearings are clean and
well lubricated (test it to see that it spins freely) and the problem
of tearing will subside.  Yes, you will have to be careful with very
long rolls, but you can manually *quickly* stop and start the take up
spool during rewind using your fingers if the roll is winding up too
loosely.

Bruce Clark