Great video. I, too, just picked up one of these for $5 on Facebook marketplace. It's probably been sitting around for over a decade too. Looks like mine has a broken tab pulley and some sticky keys among various other problems. Your videos have been great at helping me diagnose what's wrong with my machine, as I've got next to no clue about what I'm doing. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.

Good of you to share your knowledge like this Duane and I enjoy the 'discover along with me what the problem is', nature of your vids

A Great reliable workhorse of the 1970's and earlier!

That's about the condition most of the machines I see are in! I posted on my FB business page to let people see how bad these can be.

I used to repair these machines way back in 1979. This one sounds like a yamaha 500 single ...

Good Job👍🏻 Wonderfull machine IBM selectric

Those red handle scissor-clamp tells me your ex-IBM...

I have one...just got it .turn it in ans the motor gets so hot and doesn't start up. I don't know if it's repairable....any thoughts would be appreciated

I recently got a selectric III , it is in dire need of cleaning at the very least. Should I use lacquer thinner ? Also any recommendations for lube after the old oil has been cleaned?

Hey! This is a comment on a 4 year old video so I understand it's a long shot. I just purchased one of these (Selectric 3) and after typing about a page or so, the machine started to only type about half of letters. It's like it's only punching through on half of the character when the ball strikes the paper as opposed to the whole thing. I have a feeling that it might be an alignment issue with the ball or something but I'm not at all experienced with typewriter diagnostics and repair.

Any tips for what to lube, what to not? And how to exchange two keys. I bought german one and z and y are swapped. Also mine was stuck due to bad old lubricant. I washed it with wd40 but it wash out oil too. At least it now print fine.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

3 жыл бұрын

100's of lubrication points on these, switching letters involves switching interposers, very complicated and time consuming.

I just bought an IBM Selectric and it works amazing! I got it for $10 and there is only one problem. A few of the keys don't work unless I press them 20 or more times. The K is specifically bad. Do you know how I could fix that?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

6 жыл бұрын

Of course I know how to fix it . . . . . kzread.info/dash/bejne/mYCr0tSeZZC3dqQ.html

Looking to buy one of these bad boys local. When I'm inspecting it, should I be looking for that red indicator underneath the case?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

3 жыл бұрын

Bottom pan catches most stuff that falls off of these typewriters, never know what you're gonna find

I have a selectric ii, it's in pretty good condition except the return button doesn't actually move it but it lets me move it with out resistance and the only other issue, which is new as of an hour ago, my space bar no longer functions. I can press it and it seems to do everything that its supposed to except it feels loose almost and it no longer actually creates a space, this is very problematic for obvious reasons but is quite aggravating too, I was pretty much right in the middle of writing and I got up to do some stuff and when I sat back down the space bar no longer functioned. I assumed that it was just some little issue and that turning it off and back on would fix it, as it does most all other small miniscule issues I randomly encounter, but the issue persists

@phoenixtypewriter2136

8 ай бұрын

Sound like the return clutch has failed, very common. The spacebar issue I'm not sure what's happening, could be a timing issue, could be stuck in correcting mode, I would need more info or an actual on-hands troubleshooting

I recently bought a IBM saletric 2 and it has a badge from the seacoast typewriter service and supplies by chance do you know anything about the company

@phoenixtypewriter2136

Жыл бұрын

Nope, did a quick internet search and came up blank too There used to be 1000's of typewriter shops during the 1970's

@THEDIRTMAN1

Жыл бұрын

@@phoenixtypewriter2136 thanks for trying it. Was a company from gulfport Mississippi but I can't find anything on the company all I know is the tag and typewriter but I'm going to go do more research

Are you flushing it with the solution you found in the ebay link you posted? We went through and looked at it , last date of service 2009. We found a crack in the pully ....and sticky parts . The crack almost looks like it should be there. But it's pretty identical to what,you are showing here

@phoenixtypewriter2136

6 жыл бұрын

I'm using lacquer thinner in video. Old oils needs to be flush out or it will just re-coagulate. The spray I use has mineral spirits & oil, but not strong enough to do much good until after particular part ( 100's of parts) has been flushed & cleaned of the 35 yr old caked on oils with a strong degreaser & compressed air.

@jillianlea9690

6 жыл бұрын

thank you! i hope i can revive this beauty

@byonbill9499

6 жыл бұрын

I worked on those beasts for IBM for thirty years and then another twenty on my own. What we used for cleaning them was trichlorethylene, it was supplied to us as IBM Cleaning Fluid, it is no longer available to the public, a casualty of the EPA. For the last twenty years I serviced the machines I used spray automotive brake cleaner. That didn't bother the plastic or the rubber in the machine, I did try and keep it off the key buttons though. Lacquer thinner although a good degreaser will have an adverse effect on some of the plastics. I did resort to its use on those sticky key lever pawls that I'm sure you have encountered. WD40 also works well sprayed on and blown off as a final touch.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

6 жыл бұрын

I have perfected the use of lacquer thinner, plastic protection is huge factor. I can polish the worst IBM clear card guide to perfection just using red oil & a couple drops of lacquer thinner. BTW IBM selectric 3 key tops are impervious to lacquer thinner, whereas selectric 2 keytops will melt & be ruined.

@antronargaiv3283

5 жыл бұрын

@@phoenixtypewriter2136- THAT TIP probably saved my Selectric II keytops :-) I'm using mineral spirits, doesn't dissolve as much, but hopefully safer on the keytops (still, I'm trying to keep it away from them). I used Triclo when I worked on Teletypes -- it was fantastic. Probably better that I use mineral spirits.

Hi Duane, can you tell me where to get one of those IBM hook tools? Thanks.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

7 жыл бұрын

Ebay might have them or here..... www.cmfg.com/misc.html

@OWEN-CASH

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Hello, I was wondering what I can do if the first piece is stuck? I don’t know what it’s called but it’s the black roller. The left side came out but not the right .....I just bought this type writer and don’t understand any of it. I would really appreciate your help

@graciesotomayor4250

3 жыл бұрын

Update: I got the black roller off and now my problem is that the ribbon carrier is stuck. I dont know how to fix that The keys are also very tight.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

3 жыл бұрын

These have 2500+ parts, all these parts have 40yr old oil that has gotten sticky All the old oil needs to be flushed out & relubed ( reconditioned ) Start by flushing each assembly until everything is moving free

What size of tool do I need to turn the screw? I can't make my own.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

6 жыл бұрын

That's an IBM cycle tool, it has reverse threads You can find these on ebay sometimes

@paulbillings1791

6 жыл бұрын

mumujamm If you do get an IBM hand cycle tool,be careful if the machine is really locked up. You can break the threads off in the shaft.

What was the outcome did you post another video on this machine?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

2 жыл бұрын

This unit was completely rebuilt/reconditioned, I rebuild about 2 of these every week. I probably should shoot a video of a completed reconditioned selectric, I don't think I have done that per say. Process takes 4 hours or more of bench time, everything gets attended to.

I am buying one tomorrow that owner says was in storage 20 years, says it is sticky, how much does this cost for repair? I picked up the typewriter, seems like the spacebar is stuck in "on" position, when it powers up the print mechanism moves to the right immediately and keeps going. The letter keys do not push down, maybe if space bar is active, the keys won't move down? Also the black curved plate below platten on left is missing, the one you trimmed on a typewriter because it was rubbing. I wonder if I can find this part? I guess first thing I will "degrease" the machine, clean it up and see if that works. If you don't mine please let me know if you have any suggestions on spacebar "on" problem.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

7 жыл бұрын

Hello Glenn . . . . That a common situation, only thing good is it's a low milage machine more than likely. Spacebar action repeating is gonna be sticky parts, probably 2 or 3 pivot points on spacebar linkage has coagulate oils & needs flushing. There are 100's of moving parts that get gummy when machines sit without use or servicing. My regular/base charge for typewriter service is $48.00, If it's sticking from sitting for decades minimum is $88.00 plus parts. This is a complicated typewriter even before they ever had "Sticky" parts. Now it's Very Very difficult to get some of these unserviced/unused selectrics going reliably without a complete overhaul, upwards of $200.00.

@gmcenroe

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks, yes I was able to get it to stop, but it still over spaces. I don't have solvents from work (I'm a chemist) to clean it thoroughly. Since I semi fixed that, I typed and whatever key I hit, a -----comes after it, the - key is activating on its own. Also looked like someone fiddle with that right comb spring on top of the key pivots and it was not seating correctly on the right most switches. I removed it. That spring doesn't seem to really do anything necessary. Without the comb spring in it will be easier to clean those pivot points on the keys. I may try to get a new one from local repair shop if possible. It is tricky to put back into position. Also there is foam under the keys that has broken down, the fragments fall into the key levers. I am going to try to remove all of that foam. Thanks for your help. I am having fun working on it.

@gmcenroe

7 жыл бұрын

I think I have everything figured out now after watching some IBM repair training videos on youtube, and reading the IBM Selectric troubleshooting booklet. The little bars that lock into the rotating cams are not moving fast enough because they are clogged up with grease and take too long to lock the cam into its stopped position. The other symptom called flicking or over cycling may be a similar problem with the other cam, related to the cycle clutch latch keeper. As soon as I get some solvents I can clean it up and reloob it with some sewing matching oil and hopefully get it working.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

7 жыл бұрын

I used to use some spray oil by Ames that was only 5% oil, super light but did leave just a trace of oil, great for most IBM pivots especially keyboard area. That spray hasn't been around for a while but I found this spray by MG chemical that is super useful. Air blow out excess. www.ebay.com/itm/251912832391?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

@gmcenroe

7 жыл бұрын

I looked up that cleaner, it is a mixture of hexane isomers and mineral oil. I can get that solvent from work and mineral oil and make up my own. Thanks

Hello. Really good advice. I bought a selectric after watching you videos with the idea of working on it to get it all working. After spending many weeks of evenings and weekends cleaning and oiling...replacing the hub pulley and spring and repairing the hub pully. Replacing the tab pulley support... it was all working very well, I was quite chuffed with all my work. Fitted it back into the case and brought it in to the house to actually use. Five minutes of use and after hitting return, a horrible grating noise. On examination there is about 5mm play between the escape drum and the gears on the operational shaft....so nothing really works now. How can this happen? The grub screws holding the escape drum to the shaft are tight. I took the main spring off and the end collar is 'as should be'. My question is...Is there a shim or bush along the shaft that might have split and dropped out. I cannot undo the grub screws on the escape drum... too tight and rounding my hex key. Any advice would be very appreciated. Thanks Kevin

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

Not sure without a visual what happened, either send picture thru my email Rushjensen@aol.com or go to facebook, Golfball group, few IBM tech's are active there, you can post pictures or video for better results These are the most complicated mechanical typewriters ever made & life expectancy was only 8 years, these are now 38 yrs . . . . .

I'd have stripped it for parts but then we used to buy them wholesale so could afford to be picky

I CANNOT GET THE COVER OPEN. Cartridge is stuck

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

Common for carriers to be stuck, common for lots of stuff being stuck on these now-a-days Can you get to latches ? If carrier is to left you will need to manipulate latch from side with strong screwdriver other videos show how these latches work,

My IBM Selectric went away with my youth ... sigh!