[GreenKeys] ASR-33 problem with clutch

[Aaron Nabil]

I have a problem with my ASR-33, and I know of a nearly identical
machine that has the same problem locally.  Both units are very new,
probably < 10 hrs on each.  I've lubricated mine a bit, the other is
untouched.  I know of a third, older machine that I can look at as a
reference but I haven't done that yet, so I'd be interested in how
other people's 33's act.

The problem is a slight dragging sound in the clutch.  It happens
after rcving characters that have mostly 1's set.  Rubout precipitates
the problem right away, characters that have fewer 1's may or may not,
but on characters with mostly 1's the STOP LUG  will slowly drift up
to SHOE LEVER and it'll start making the sound.

http://www.spiritone.com/~nabil/asr33/open.jpg  is what the clutch
looks like usually, and is not making any noise.  This is the
condition after a character without many 1's.  You can manually push
the STOP LUG towards the SHOE LEVER, but it has a slight detent force
(I suspect from the selector lever cams) that will tend to return it
to the "open" position shown.

http://www.spiritone.com/~nabil/asr33/closed.jpg is what it looks like
when it's making noise, after a rubout character.  Note the STOP LUG
is right up against the SHOE LEVER.  You can pull it back, but it will
drift back together.  Intermediate characters with just mostly 1's
will leave the STOP LUG/SHOE LEVER gap half way, sometime it will slow
drift closed (or open) depending on the balance of force from what I
suspect are the detents on the SELECTOR LEVER CAMS.  Note that the
"closed" position as shown is actually disengaging the clutch more, so
I don't think it the clutch itself draging, but one of it inside bits.

When it is making the sound, if you insert a toothpick under the SHOE
LEVER and pull it slightly away (radially) from the hub, the noise
will stop.

Has anyone else seen/heard this?  It's easy to duplicate, put your
machine in local and hit the RUBOUT key.  I'd like to know what
position the STOP LUG/SHOE LEVER's end up in with a "normal" unit, the
only two I have as reference happen to been very new and both have the
problem.