#selectric

Cover of the beast removed. Kinda dirty, but not that dirty. Biggest issue is every bit of foam on here has decayed to heck. #selectric #typewriter

Lol, this typewriter is older than I am. #typewriter #selectric

Aha! I have found the mechanism that is having issues... there's a mainspring and some kind of thing called an "escapement mechanism" which pulls the head along while you type. Since this clearly is just not working due to AGE, the fix most certainly for this is to lubricate EVERYTHING, something is just not moving that is supposed to be moving. I probably need to vacuum out little bits of foam, as a piece of foam also could have gotten stuck in a bad spot. So, the next steps on this project are:

1. Vacuum every last bit of foam I can get out of there
2. Lubricate any moving surface -- will just use TriFlow, since it's pretty magic on any moving equipment like this.
3. Buy a new ribbon (and possibly)
4. Remove and regrease gears (in case any gears are jammed). Not sure what kind of grease, will have to see what people are using as substitutes for official IBM part numbers, lol.

#typewriter #repair #selectric

Aha! Model 71. #selectric #typewriter #repair

Lubricated anywhere metal touches moving metal, as you would a sewing machine, with Triflow lubricant. The space still did not work. Thought I had a bigger issue, then I pushed down on the plastic with the model number, and it moved. It's cracked and warped (age!). Removed the warped plastic, which was in the way of the head. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twvEiBN1vKY&feature=youtu.be #typewriter #selectric #repair

Final diagnosis of stuck head issue: this plastic is warped and broken. The question now is: try to reshape this 1971 plastic, or just toss it? 🤔#selectric #repair #typewriter

Let's see, someone MUST have a video on how to load these.. Aha! Youtube, amazing. Also: THIS RIBBON WAS LOADED WRONG already! This person on YouTube points out it will work but will use too much ribbon... which is why those messages on the carbon are so spaced out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J76PgVbhEW0 #typewriter #selectric #repair