[GreenKeys] First Teletype Machine! Here!

[gil at baudot.net]

Note:  Sending this again in plain-text format, as my previous html
reply was blank.

Sheesh.  Gotta get these list settings figured out.

gil
----------------------------------

Hi:

I have had good luck cleaning gunky machines by taking them to the
self-service car wash and simply hosing them down with the high-pressure
water wash.  It helps that I live in Arizona, so I can set the unit in
the sun to dry quickly without any rust forming.

Of course you then need to do a thorough lube.

I would not advise turning on an old machine without some prep work
anyway -- could have something frozen that might break when powered up.

gil



gil smith
 greenkeys moderator
 gil at baudot.net
 www.baudot.net
 Vaux Electronics: 480-354-5556
 
 

   -------- Original Message --------
 Subject: [GreenKeys] First Teletype Machine! Here!
 From: "H. Kurth Bemis" <kurth at kurthbemis.com>
 Date: Tue, March 10, 2009 11:58 pm
 To: greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
 
 Big hello to the list!
 
 I'm excited to say that I received the Model 15 that I purchased off
 ePay a few weeks back.
 
 First let me say, not expecting something as heavy as this is. Now I
 know why the term "heavy metal" is used to describe these beasts.
 
 On my first attempt the unit did not power on, as the power supply was
 damaged during shipping. We re-soldered the broken points and
 reconnected it to the m15, powered the unit on, and behold! it came to
 life!
 
 So here is where I'm at right now with this machine.
 
 The entire thing is covered in grease and oil and dirt. Lots of hair in
 there too. I've seen other pictures where the chassis of these units
 was clean and looked to be free of oil and debris. So I ask; Should I
 be cleaning this unit and re-oiling components as recommended by the
 manuals (Thank you for the CD Jim H!) as I work through this unit? I
 read about all sorts of recommended cleaning methods cleaning methods,
 for teletypes and other equipment, but am not sure which one will yield
 the best results. Is there a what is everyone's favorite degreaser?
 How oil-free, or not oil-free do I want the chassis and the inside of
 this thing in general?
 
 First obvious problem is when the teletype is powered on, the typebar
 carriage begins advancing right, as it should when it's typing, but
 since there's no signal, there's no letters to be output. But the
 carriage keeps moving along anyway. Which brings us to our second
 problem....
 
 When the typebar carriage arrives at right margin, it dings the bell
and
 then instead of a CR, will just keep pushing to the right. No carriage
 return. What would be causing this? Where would I look to begin
 diagnosing this issue? Is it related to the extra spring I mention
 below?
 
 And finally, while attempting to diagnose why the motor was not
 starting, we (myself and a labmate) removed the typebar assembly. After
 we replaced the typebar assembly, a spring fell out of the assembly.
 Try as we might, we cannot find where this spring might go or fit. I've
 attached pictures of the spring sized next to a US penny (my current
 savings). With the manner this was shipped in, this spring could be
 from anywhere in the unit, although everything seems to be working fine
 without it to the extent that there's no CR and keeps advancing despite
 having no input.....
 
 When I get a moment this week I will organize pictures and publish them
 on my website for everyone to see.
 
 ttyl
 ~k
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