[GreenKeys] AN/UGC-74B Ribbon Revival

[Ralph Mowery]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doug Alderdice" <ka2wft at arrl.net>
To: <GreenKeys at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2007 4:04 PM
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] AN/UGC-74B Ribbon Revival


> At 03:42 PM 10/27/2007 -0400, Larry Tighe wrote:
>>A time ago there was discussion about ribbon revival.  Sorry to say, I 
>>didn't pay attention.
>>
>>I have a AN/UGC-74B with a drying ribbon.  I opened the case and its a 
>>very long closed loop.  Is there anything out there commercially that can 
>>be dropped into that holder as a replacement?
>>
>>Someone mentioned WD-40 for ribbon revival....do you spray WD-40 onto that 
>>loop?  Is that a short time fix?  Ideally, a bottle of ribbon ink but, 
>>that's too much to hope for.
>
> In my experience the WD-40 trick is an extremely short time fix!  I tried 
> the trick once with a Calculagraph ribbon and it worked great for about 
> half a day and then dried up drier than it had been before the application 
> of "the trick" leaving me with a completely useless ribbon.
>
> I would advise, "proceed with caution" regarding the WD-40 rejuvination.
>
> 73,
>
> Doug, KA2WFT

The WD-40 or really any spray oil is usually only good for 'new old " 
ribbons.  If the ribbon has been used a lot, it is probably out of ink and 
needs reinking or replacing.  If you have an old ribbon that has not been 
used, the ink is still there , just dried out and the reoiling will replace 
the dried out oil and let you get some use out of it.

I have a reinker for my old 15 and have used it a lot.  Have not had it 
hooked up for a long time now and think I am down to my last tube of the NCR 
black ink that comes in a tube sort of like toothpaste.  Not sure if that 
can even be bought any more.  I bought it about 20 years agoI need to get it 
going again , but moved about 3 years ago and just have been too busy.

de KU4PT