[GreenKeys] Cranky Model 15

[George B. Hutchison]

Larry - - -

One question I have is what are the characters being printed in place 
of the E,Y,N,Q s that are popping up? Is there a consistency in the 
erroneous characters?

Looking at the handy dandy code card shows that the most common 
denominators are the first bit and the third bit, but that doesn't 
answer everything.

What type of selector is it?? Holding, indicated by the square cores 
in the magnets, or pulling as indicated by the round magnets.

The Holding magnet selector armature actually contacts the pole 
pieces of the magnet. If there is any surface oil on the face of the 
magnet cores or on the armature face, then you could have a lag 
caused by adhesion of the two due to the oil film. A shot of solvent 
or a couple pieces of paper held between the armature and the pole 
pieces will get most of the oil.

Another thought I have is that in the past I have seen problems due 
to the trip latch on the range finder wearing out.

The quickest way to check that is with the machine just running, not 
printing, take the plastic handle of a screwdriver and rap the range 
finder right on that big screw that hold the swing arm. If the 
machine goes ker-chunk every time you rap that screw, the most likely 
cause is that the trip latch is worn out. If it is gone then you have 
to replace both the stop arm and the latch itself. Both selectors use 
the same parts, just the frame of the range finder is a bit 
different.

Hope this helps.

If not, I am sure that there are other more learned mechanics out 
there that will tell you that perhaps the B-H curves of the magnet 
have changed sufficiently to induce the noted Carwelling Hysteresis 
Anomaly,  most often found in airborne laser weapons or the older 
Victor Mousetraps. All I know is what I found at three in the morning 
in 15s in radio stations full of pissed off DJs who could not read 
the news because the damned news machine had crapped out after the 
Conelrad Alarm went off.

W7TTY