[GreenKeys] On a 14 is that Little cylinder of plastic all there is to the Platen? Jan KD6EM

[Bob Camp]

Hi

Congratulations on getting the machine running. That's a pretty 
impressive feat on an unknown machine without a manual.

It's been a long time since I looked at a model 14 typing reperf so I 
can't help much with the platen question. I'm sure there is somebody 
else on the list that can help.

A few observations though.

1) A "new" ribbon may or may not be a good ribbon. They get stored for 
a long time and often arrive a bit dried out. If so they won't print 
very well. A good ribbon should get ink on your fingers when you handle 
it. A dried out ribbon will only smudge your fingers a little. A little 
3 in 1 oil or what ever does wonders for reviving a dried out ribbon. 
The pigment from the ink is still there, you just need to loosen it up 
a little. Probably the best way is to apply a little oil and then put 
the ribbon in a plastic bag. That way the oil will penetrate the entire 
ribbon.

2) Manuals are a very helpful thing. I'm pretty sure that somebody here 
on the list has a 14 manual they can part with. Without one these 
machines can be a bit frustrating.

3) Assuming the platen parts are all there (and I suspect they are not) 
you may have a problem with either the ribbon feed or with the bail 
that drives the hammers. The ribbon may be miss threaded (sometimes 
they go through in a *very* strange way). The bail may be mistimed. The 
normal way to check this is to turn the motor by hand and watch what is 
happening as you trip a character manually. Once you have spotted the 
part that drives the hammers you can take a look and see if it may have 
slipped a little.

My guess is that you are missing a little rubber buffer pad on the 
platen. That's keeping the tape from moving up to meet the ribbon and 
hammer. I'm not sure if that's the way a 14 was set up or if I'[m 
confusing it with another machine (again).

	Take Care!

		Bob Camp
		KB8TQ



On Dec 22, 2004, at 10:54 PM, Wndrrt at cs.com wrote:

> I gave in, broke down and bought a coverless 14 typing reperforator on 
> Ebay.
> I just had to see the chadless tape with the printing on it that all 
> and the
> books keep talking about.  I just got it yesterday.  Too much 
> excitement this
> close to Christmas!  Well, I cleaned the unit, replaced the few wires, 
> oiled
> her up, and she flew into action.  Punching and tape feeding and noise 
> making,
> but no printing with a new ribbon yet.  The keys were coming down in 
> the right
> order and missing the wire ink ribbon holder.  The only way I can get 
> the
> unit to print is if I put excessive slack in the ink ribbon.  The 
> ribbon wheels
> turn super free, but it seems that when the slack is taken up on the 
> ribbon,
> the visible printing goes away.  Does the little plastic cylinder that 
> acts as
> the platen have anything to do with this?  Can the platen be adjusted 
> up or
> down? Is there a rubber part that fits on top of this plastic 1/4 inch 
> diameter
> cylinder? Underneath the plastic cylinder there appears to be an 
> aluminum disk
> with a tiny hole in the center.  Would there be a rubber cushion under 
> this
> aluminum disk.  Would there be a spring under this disk?
>
> Hope someone can solve the mystery.
> Thanks,
> Jan KD6EMW
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