Duane, you took an amazing challenge to do everything on camera and share all the good and bad events that happened during this complex task! Thank you very much, your videos have been encouraging to me in my quest to restore a Selectric III, as a fine mechanics ammateur...

Very cool, Ive been doing selectrics 40 years. Good for you showing the general public how to fix thier machines. Kudos.

@hastabyebye

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Lisa, Me too... I repaired them from '75 till computers took over. San Diego County for me. Nice to meet someone of my gender doing it. 😎

This really helped me with my Selectric, my Rotate Tape broke, I ordered a new one and when I started the replacement, the tilt tape broke! Once I got that tape, the installation of both went smoothly and the typewriter is working fine again, so THANK YOU, I don't know if I would have attempted without this video.

this video is the physical manifestation of both anxiety and stress itself

Just imagine being on the assembly line at IBM, back in the day, and having to endlessly perform this operation....in a specific timeframe.

WONDERFUL MACHINE 👏👏👏👏👏

great video! youre a mechanical wizard! Keep the videos coming!

My rotate tape had a kink in it and SNAPPED while I was testing the underline key. Just found another Selectric II for $15 that has one in decent shape. Just goes to show that these tapes NEED to be in good shape.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

3 жыл бұрын

Crazy part, tough as steel, but very fragile

When I started with IBM in 1977 I had 120 Selectric's in one room of a High School typing class they would love to pull rotate and tilt tapes off.

Holy smokes.

Good stuff! I'm trying to replace the rotate and tilt tapes on my IBM Selectric ll. This video has helped me a great deal on the rotate tape, but could you also do one on the tilt tape?

First off, I can't thank you enough for all the videos. I've replaced 3 parts on this selectric 2 thanks to you. The last part was the rotate tape (I broke it while putting on the cover). Now the ball is off by a single letter. How do I adjust this? I saw your instructions on another comment. But I couldn't find the "FB Golfball website". Any help would be appreciated.

I use an IBM springhook to hold the "T" when inserting it into the T slot on the rotate pulley. The IBM springhook was originally designed to re-hook the escapement springs on the old IBM Executive typebar machines.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

6 жыл бұрын

It's unbelievable how much I use my IBM spring hook(s), so many things on an IBM seem to be design for that tool

@JimMeyerTheFirst

6 жыл бұрын

Funny story: I worked at IBM East Fishkill back in '71 and operated the miniature printing press that put manufacturing info on the memory modules. Our most-used tool was that spring hook, and I "liberated" one and used for many years until the hook part broke off. On a whim, I did an Internet search and found that you can still buy them! (Which I did, of course... and now I finally have a Selectric to use it on!) Best tool I've ever owned.

@constantinbulucea8881

5 жыл бұрын

@@JimMeyerTheFirst Jim, can you share where you found that magic tool? Thanks, Constantin.

Very cool!

I just changed the rotate tape on my selectric ii. When I got the machine, it needed a new belt. I changed the belt and knocked this tape off. I crimped the tape trying to get it back on. So, when the new tape showed up this weekend, I finally got time to put tape on. I should mention that in changing the belt, when I got the selection rack depressed, it seems to have hung up in the "down " position. I had to adjust both shafts after getting the gear pack back in. I'm not sure if that one to be the back of the machine is where it needs to be. I can't see rack well enough to tell what's got it. ⁹

What would cause the selection rack to hang up? I changed the belt on my selectric ii a few weeks ago. I got back to it one day, few days ago. K

What length tape should I get? I see 11”, 13”, or 15”.

We have an IBM Selectric II correcting machine and the type ball's arrow is not facing towards the paper, it faces right of center. I can actually turn the ball to center (so it is not locked up), but it continues to spring back and the arrow goes back to the right of center. Is there a self-fix for this. Our local business machine repair service no longer works on these awesome machines. I would welcome any help. Thank you in advance.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

4 жыл бұрын

If you turn that ball by hand you can break things and cause havoc with the mechanism. Does machine work ? Does shift work ? There are many adjustments for the ball

Asked the other Canadian youtuber same question, not sure if you have tried any subsitutes like a Nylon line(e.g. badminton string). I just got a IBM Correcting Selectric, however unfortunately rotate tape broke after I forcefully put it back to track/reel (it works for a while until i press "TAB" button). Not sure where to get a tape and it'll challenging to replace it. Any idea if I can use a nylon string to replace it?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

2 жыл бұрын

That rotate tape is a precision part, high tensile steel so it won't stretch, no substitute I have these available, new, you can also find them on ebay

@seandong3847

2 жыл бұрын

I see. Appreciate your comments. I will see if I can find the same parts in locally to save shipping cost or find a part typewriter. I believe it should be a 15” length as I learn from other video?

Your videos are excellent, but I have a request: can you demonstrate the issues you're fixing more thoroughly at the beginning of the videos? I've had trouble figuring out exactly what's wrong, and a demonstration of the issue being addressed would be much appreciated!

@phoenixtypewriter2136

6 жыл бұрын

Being a total video amature filmer & director I appreciate your comment & definitely need to fine tune my process & learn how to edit edit edit !

@sustomusickillsyoutube

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for being so receptive!

@moldyapples

5 жыл бұрын

The important thing for me is that I've learned a lot from your videos & they've helped me fix multiple typewriters! @@phoenixtypewriter2136

If the rotate tape is broken, but the 2 hooks are still attached under the carrier, is there a way to mend the tape by splicing the 2 broken ends?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

6 ай бұрын

Not that I'm aware of.

One of my bands has fallen off one of the pullys and I can't pull it out far enough to get it back on. Do I have to do this procedure? Thanks

@phoenixtypewriter2136

6 жыл бұрын

You might have to..... Sure would be better to manipulate it back onto pulley somehow.

Early on in the video you put the rotate tape through something on the right side of the typewriter frame (your left because you're you're upside down) and then pull it back through. What, exactly, is the tape going around? I didn't see any image of the pathway for the right hand side of the rotate tape. Also, the pulley on the left hand side of my II has no cover. Was that a III addition?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

2 ай бұрын

I tried to find what you're talking about, not sure. maybe try again with a time stamp 6:37 ? That is the shift rotate pully Join this place for detailed help facebook.com/groups/gbtwshop

@thrillscience

2 ай бұрын

@@phoenixtypewriter2136 Thanks! I think I figured it out. I re-watched your video and compared it to the diagrams in the IBM service manuals. I have a Selectric II where I screwed up the tape. The pulley on the left side of mine doesn't have that little cover to keep it from falling off the pulley,and mine fell off. I kinked it trying to get it back on, so now I have to replace it. Thanks for all your help! We left a donation in your tip jar.

well the spring winds if i put a screw driver in one of the notches to hold them still

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

There is a metal tab that engages the main spring, maybe that's bent or broke ?

@thevintageman13

5 жыл бұрын

@@phoenixtypewriter2136 that is probably it thanks!

the rotate spring has no tension is it broken or am i doing something wrong?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

Rotate band wraps around a very small main spring located below the type ball That's spring is wound up by turning type ball, that's what gives the rotate band tension

No matter how much i turn the ball there is no tension is there a fix?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

Sure there is a fix, from what is sounds like the main spring has broken or got wound wrong direction and is disconnected inside the housing. Remove and replace . Rare, I have only ever had 1 fail or get ruined in 40yrs, 1000's of units

That little plastic price you were talking about in 26:26, is that supposed to be a little loose? there's almost no images on the internet showing what this piece is supposed to exactly look like and I have nothing to compare it to.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

4 жыл бұрын

It's a tricky little part. only way to see it really good is from a carrier that has been removed from typewriter, then you can see how it mounts and Yes it can be a little loose.....

@Decco6306

4 жыл бұрын

@@phoenixtypewriter2136 Thanks!

What problems can that small plastic piece cause?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

4 жыл бұрын

If it cracks, chips or breaks rotate tape (band) will more than likely come off track

I just installed mine and the arrow on the ball is not facing the correct way... Is there a way to adgust that??

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

I'm wondering if you install correct size tape (13" vs 15" ), But yes there is a way to do it, do you have a selectic 2 or 3 ?

@MasonHewitt

5 жыл бұрын

I have a Personal Writer.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

OK, 1st since the personal typewriter is a 11" version you might have the wrong size/length rotate tape installed causing the ball to be out of whack. This is a selectric II carrier & head/ball assembly. There is a set screw, very very small, way down near the little mainspring that winds the rotate tape & you can loosen that & turn the ball to home position, or close, then probably need to adjust with a basic rotate adjustment. You might hop on FB golfball site & post about this, then one of us can post picture or maybe clark or chuck will have a parts diagram where that screw is & help add with solving this.

So how many people are actually doing this for a living these days? How many people still use a typewriter, and is there a reason other than nostalgia/personal preference?