[GreenKeys] Interesting discovery...

[Don Robert House]

While watching my 28KSR print out iTTY I noticed that the ribbon  
reversing was not functioning properly.
After close inspection (which of course means fingers full of ink)  I  
discovered the problem.

Some of the newer plastic spools for Okidata printers and some  
typewriters look to be the same as the older metal variety.
One of the suppliers I used sent the ribbon with two spools all ready  
to install.  Most do not do this. So I put the new ribbon and spools  
on the machine.

The center hole for the support pin that locks the spool in place fits  
nicely over the support pin and it will lock down.
However the total thickness of the spool is less than the metal  
version... and more importantly the series of holes that surround the  
center hole are smaller than the old style.
So on my machine the spools seemed to install correctly and work for a  
time, but even with the re-inker full of ink the text would start to  
get light.

The pins that force the spool to turn are larger than the holes  
provided in the spools.  So sometimes the ribbon will take up okay and  
sometimes it slips. Mostly slipping when the ribbon reverse function  
is starting to operate.

So as Tom suggests:  When you receive modern replacement ribbons buy  
some vinyl disposable gloves and transfer the new ribbon to the good  
old metal spools.

Don K9TTY

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