[GreenKeys] Model 28/35 mainshaft doweling procedure

[Don Robert House]

Yes,

As Teletype repairmen for Bell, we were expected to repair the  
machines in less than two hours.
Sometimes this was impossible... made worse by AT&T calling to "see  
how you are doing."
The best way to accomplish changing one of the clutches or gears on  
the mainshaft in less time
than removing the entire shaft, clutches and all... is with the use of  
a bare mainshaft with nothing
on it.  Loosen and or remove all the screws and begin at the end of  
the typing unit closest to the
component that needs replacing.  The idea is to keep everything lined  
up.  When you have the
ends of the two shafts in the center of the broken or worn part you  
pull back on both shafts until
the part can be replaced.  Then you keep pushing until the bare shaft  
becomes the new shaft
and the original shaft can be used for the next job. Keep oil can  
handy...

If you cannot find a spare mainshaft without anything on it, you can  
use a metal rod the same
diameter or slightly less in diameter.  Round steel and aluminum stock  
is available at most
larger hardware stores or one of the larger hobby stores like Hobby  
Lobby.

Remember that this procedure was implemented to cut down on the time  
necessary to get
the customer in service.  It takes a bit of dexterity and patience.   
It also helps to have good
lighting and good eyesight.  No phone calls or other distractions  
(visit the MENs before starting)

Another way to tackle the job is to use a digital camera and take a  
photo of every part that
you loosen or remove and remove the entire shaft, line up the parts in  
order and then re-assemble
when you have everything back on the shaft.  If you forget what goes  
where or which direction
it goes, you will have the images to refer to. This is what they do at  
TV's "American Restoration"
(Rick Dale's company in Las Vegas, NV.) shown on the History Channel.  
(my favorite TV show)

Please remember that before you do anything with the mainshaft...  
check all of the clutches
to make sure they are latching properly when the selector armature is  
held up and the shaft
is turned to the "running closed" position.  If you do not have an  
armature clip you can fashion
one out of a wire coat hanger or use thin bare wire to "tie it up".  
You do not want to have to do
the job more than once. If any of the clutches when unlatched have an  
opening larger than
0.080" chances are it needs to be adjusted or replaced.  As a rule of  
thumb we used the
thickness of a J1 wrench for reference. Gages are available online at  
W.W. Granger and at
auto parts stores.

I hope you have the Model 28 Typing unit adjustment practice.  If not,  
I can send you a copy
for the cost of the postage & $5. for toner.

Tom Tillson is the guru of these typing units.  He may have some  
additional advice for you.
The neat thing about this job is that you will wind up learning more  
about your machine.

I have almost 50 pounds of parts and gears here but no spare shafts.   
Unless the part is
unusually rare I can send them for the price of the postage.  Some of  
the parts can be
rare and I do not want to compete with Paul Cembura, good man that he  
is.

Don
K9TTY


On 27 Jun 2014, at 10:07 AM, e.dirk at verizon.net wrote:

Don,

I'm in the process of trying to restore a W/U  28ASR.

I got it from the "TTY Graveyard"  warehouse in Paterson NJ, a few  
years ago, and now
that I'm retired,  I'm finding the time to begin it's rebirth.

While cleaning away the years of gunk accumulated on the printer base,  
I found paper clips,
some miscellaneous tty  hardware, 2 spare perf hammers (one broke  
before I realized what
it was), and I found a single white plastic gear tooth. I knew that  
wasn't a good sign. I
removed the printer unit and found that a large white nylon gear, on  
the main shaft, was
missing one tooth. I'm getting a replacement gear from Paul Cembura.

I've decided to attempt replacing this gear. I know that Randy Guttery  
has a pictorial of the process
he used to change the position of some gears/spacers on the main  
shaft, which involved removing
the main shaft. Towards the end of his web pages, documenting his  
efforts, he mentioned
your "dowel procedure"  for changing main shaft components, and said  
that it would  have made this
task easier.

I recall sometime ago, on greenkeys, there was a discussion regarding  
your dowel procedure.
It seems that sliding a dowel in to support the clutches, and other  
main shaft items , and maintaining
their position and attachments, to be less involved that completely  
removing the main shaft.

I've searched greenkeys, and it's archives,  and can't find this  
reference. I do remember reading it
some time ago, but I'm have trouble locating it.

I'm hoping you could provide me with this procedure, or point me to  
the date this discussion appeared
in the greenkeys archive. I'll appreciate any help or advice you can  
give me.

Many thanks,

Dirk Dana, e.dirk at verizon.net
9351 Town Place Drive
Owings Mills MD 21117




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