[GreenKeys] Need advice - 28 selector almost works OK

[Nick England]

GOT IT!

Thanks to advice and encouragement from folks here. Just in case you'd like
to squirrel away some info from my experience, here you go -

Symptoms - running from a test generator at 100wpm, this 28 reperf *almost*
works at one range setting, but punches lots of errors if I change the
range any at all.

PART ONE
1) I cleaned up the armature gap with bond paper to eliminate grease/oil
there - checked armature sping - no change.
2) I checked/adjusted the punch slide reset bail to requirement - no change.
3) I hooked up a KSR in line to generate single characters for test. Typing
R or Y manually or streaming with the repeat key showed no errors, and with
normal range (60-70 points).  But the test generator still gave errorful
results. (Yes I tested the test generator - it was OK). So that made me
think that a) the armature/selector was OK because otherwise I wouldn't get
the correct characters and b) it must have something to do with the test
generator running at full speed with no delay between characters.
4) So I checked the selector clutch stop lever adjustment - it was iffy -
good enough for a slower character stream, but not the full tilt test
generator speed. Adjusted to spec and Voila! I now got Almost Error Free
RYRY on the tape and with 60-70 points of range. Progress!

PART TWO
1) Note I said "Almost Error Free" above - now I could see one bit getting
stuck every now and then - about every 20 characters I'd get MSMMMSM
instead of MSMSMSMS. Range adjustment didn't make much difference to this
erratic error.
2) I checked the selector push lever springs - two had been shortened by
someone and I thought the ragged ends sticking out might be interfering
with each other. Swapped in springs from a parts unit - no difference.
3) Looking at the push lever area again, I saw that the "sticky" push lever
was slightly bent and not dropping squarely into its selector lever notch -
and maybe a little too close to the neighboring push lever. So I bent that
push lever a little to align correctly with the selector lever.
4) BINGO! The tape will now MSMSMS forever and the Quick Brown Fox no
longer trips over the Lazy Dog.

OK - My hubris will clearly invite the wrath of the Teletype Gods down upon
my head.
 I'm sure that within a few days, I'll either a) drop the reperf on the
floor or b) watch as springs and levers go sproinging off toward the
ceiling as the unit self destructs.
But, at least for this one brief shining moment, the damn thing is working
!!

Thanks again for all the experienced advice and encouragement - it really
is fun learning about these mechanical marvels and Greenkeys is a
tremendous resource.
Cheers,
Nick
  Nick England K4NYW
www.navy-radio.com

On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 10:32 AM, Nick England <navy.radio at gmail.com> wrote:

>   For my multiple reperf project I've been checking out several typing
> reperf units that I got from an estate.
> After cleaning, lubricating, replacing lost springs, etc. all except one
> seem to work fine at 100wpm
> One seems to have a selector problem but I'm inexperienced enough to
> wonder what to do next - I appreciate some advice from you guys who have
> serviced 100's of these things.
>
> Symptoms - bit errors every now and then. When I test with reversals there
> is a very narrow range on the rangefinder where the tape looks OK almost
> all the time. Otherwise I get some holes always marking or always spacing.
>
> I can't *see* anything like missing springs or bent levers or congealed
> crud in the innards - Adjusting the magnet armature spring doesn't seem to
> have much effect in increasing the rangefinder range. What else can I
> actually do in the selector? Is this the symptom of a worn cams or selector
> levers?
>
> Sorry to be such a pest - I just need a retired TTY repairman to move in
> next door and then I'll be all set to learn something. Until then Greenkeys
> is my resource - many thanks for all the help and friendly advice.
>
>     Nick England K4NYW
> www.navy-radio.com
>
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