Did this AND IT WORKS.......... THANK YOU for saving another typewriter!!

It's amazing how many people still use typewriters!

I found a Wheelwriter 3 neatly stacked on top of some old furniture at someone’s curb. After bringing it home I turned it on and the keys wouldn’t respond. Ended up being a simple ribbon cable that became unplugged. After that it worked perfectly for quite a while, and the correction tool was quite impressive. Then I ended up here, because that cap broke as I was typing, and immediately it wasn’t making any impressions. This video gave me all of the technical info needed to safely and effectively fix my new typewriter. I did have to remove the solenoid, because I didn’t have anything to turn they little screw. It’s working perfectly now, and I don’t feel like it’s any louder than it was before. I’m happy to say that whoever owned this took extremely good care of it. I can’t find a scratch or ding on it anywhere.

THANK YOU!!! Scored a beautiful IBM Wheelwriter 3 from goodwill today but it wasn't striking. Figured it was definitely repairable since it's an old IBM so I brought it home. Needed a good cleaning too.

This was a great video. It helped me fix my father in laws typewriter. thank you very much

Thank you for this tutorial. I had the exact same issue and was ecstatic to actually find a video that explained this and how to fix it. Appreciate the help!

Making a tool was always fun when official tools no longer existed. We even had a screwdriver that was filed down to use an angle for some specific typewriter job that I can't remember.

We tried this and IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for posting this video!

Fantastic tutorial! We used a curved needle nose pliers to adjust the screw. My purchasing staff can now type up her purchase orders. Thank you!!!

Excellent tutorial. Solution worked perfectly. Here is a tip: my old Snapon S6404A brake tool worked as a plunger adjustment tool.

Thank you...all I really needed to know was how to get the cover off of the typewriter. This came in SO handy

Interesting adjustment to correct and restore print impact without replacing the print solenoid plastic plunger. Also to quickly remove the carrier it's not required to take off the top cover. Best, Sam

This is awesome and it works! Thank you for saving my machine!

Thanks for the video , I fixed my first typewriter !!! I am a computer tech , but never fixed a typewriter until now .

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

Good deal , glad it worked out for ya . . . .

Thanks for the awesome video -- I appreciate the detailed instructions. I'm in the middle of a project to turn the typewriter into a printer without the print option module, and all of the sudden the typing started getting dimmer and eventually stopped. After I found your video, I determined that the little cap (35 years old...) had disintegrated just like that. Anyway, I didn't have the little tool you made, so I just took off the solenoid, and twisted the screw / nut from the other side. Now it's back to the project. Cheers!

@DoctorSparks

3 жыл бұрын

I did this too, and it worked for me as well

Thank you so much!! This really worked!!

Worked!!! Thank you :D

Mine printed lighter over time. Gonna try this tomorrow. I hope I can find a tool to turn the plunger 2 turns.

I'm in the middle of recombobulating a Wheelwriter 6746 and the tip is totally smashes, the solenoid seems to have a short circuit - it doesn't strike when I test it out of the typewriter, even after stripping, cleaning and re-lubrication. Looks like a complex repair, and I'll try to do it without access to original spare parts... 3D printer to the rescue!

My typewriter just failed _while I was filming it to do a video_... yes, it's the rubber thingy, I can see the fragments in the plunger pit. I'll let you know if this works!

Thanks

Tried this today worked ,thank you very much .stop working after I replaced ribbon I'm not sure how many turns I turned it because I couldn't really feel but I thought I had enough I don't know I'm going to try to take it apart and do the procedure again

@reneewatson2378

6 жыл бұрын

Hey, what tool did you use? I used a 3/16 driver and it didn’t work.

@SuperWatson63

6 жыл бұрын

Renee Watson i actually used a piece of aluminum bar stock and filed about a quarter inch. Slot in it

Mine works but the wrong characters print. Is this the same kind of repair that I'm going to need to do?

Thanks for the video! Very helpful and informative. After doing everything on the video (3 times), I still couldn't get the solenoid to move. Therefore, I replaced the "noid" and it still doesn't work. Any suggestions? I have an IBM Wheelwriter 2 by Lexmark.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

6 жыл бұрын

Bad solenoid, would be very rare. Break in wire harness. Bad driver on PCB. Would take some swapping out of parts to determine these other things

You wrote "I have a trick to replacing pad with absolutely no disassembly that takes 1 minute tops !!". Can you shed some light on this Phoenix secret?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

4 жыл бұрын

If you have original replacement pad it can be manipulated straight down thru carrier Pull daisy, wedge something on back of solenoid to hold it back, squeeze pad in position, manipulate hammer arm to seat it. Not even a video is gonna help show exactly how to do this . . . .

@formgh841

4 жыл бұрын

I don't have a pad but can buy one on eBay. It should suppress the metallic noise the machine makes without it. I watched your other video where you pull the hammer out. Even so, it took you some time to fit the cap. So I wonder how it could be squeezed in position through the carrier. Maybe there's another way to muffle that metallic noise?

@formgh841

4 жыл бұрын

I did it! From the parts of a dead Wheelwriter I found a solenoid, pried its brownish cap out and was able to fit it into my machine without disassembly. It probably won't last very long, but it worked, and it's a great deal easier than pulling the thing out. Thanks for suggesting it.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

4 жыл бұрын

@@formgh841 If it could handle all the stress from the transplant, it's probably good for a while

Our Wheelwriter 15 seems to be striking lighter than usual--gradually over time. We have to type the same line twice to be able to see anything clearly (I've tried brand new ribbons, no difference). Could this fix you are showing, possibly help with our situation? Thank you.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

6 жыл бұрын

Ribbons are not the problem unless they are not turning properly, you can put a small mark on ribbon feed wheel & watch to make sure it's turning consistently & also make sure the spacing on the used ribbon is spaced evenly. Usually when the tip on plunger/solenoid goes bad you get no print at all. Sometimes this part will break gradually until finally no print at all. Then, every so often, the plunger/solenoid needs to be rebuilt by disassembling & cleaning old lubricant from plunger & reassembling, this sound like what is wrong with your IBM. You can increase print strike by holding "CODE" key & pressing "Q" . This will set impact control to the heavy/hard setting.

Our wheelwriter 3500 has stopped printing at work. We are trying to do the permanent fix on the plunger and are pretty sure that a 7/32 nut driver will work. Our question is will we still turn the nut 2 times and are we turning in a clockwise motion?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

Yes & yes .... turn it inward to make up the gap from the old plunger pad missing, about that much . . . .

I replaced the cap and still not working. it seems to strike but not hard enough. to turn the screw do you loosen the nut first?what tool do you use to turn the screw? thanks

@phoenixtypewriter2136

4 жыл бұрын

Technically you should loosen nut, but most of the time it will turn without loosening. I made a custom tool for reaching and turning screw (with hex head). You can hold down code key on keyboard and press "Q" to increase hammer strike to heavy. Solenoid plunger might have to be rebuilt (not uncommon)

Hi Dwayne. I'm trying to fix a IBM 6715 (Actionwriter 1) with a similar problem, but the plunger is actually complete... nothing missing. It just does not strike and it didn't feel like sticking anywhere (I was able to clean cables and connectors). I was trying to do this cleaning, but the carriage is way more complex than this one. Do you know of any guides or even a repair manual for this model? Cheers!

@phoenixtypewriter2136

4 жыл бұрын

Actionwriter is an Adler satellite 3. Only typewriter IBM did not make, yet put their name on. I was factory trained on these, but it's been 30 years since I serviced any of these, threw the books away 20yrs ago Unsure I can help with anything on these models

@LeonelSerraCork

4 жыл бұрын

@@phoenixtypewriter2136 thanks! its a bit like finding a needle in a hay stack. Very litte I can find... only the operations manual. I might have to 3d print a special wrench to get the bolts and see what happens :)

How’d you get the belt back on? I can’t get the belt back on the pulleys. The rubber belt ripped and I hurt myself trying to get it back on because it wouldn’t stretch from one pulley to the next no matter how hard I tried. All of my physical strength and a pair of pliers couldn’t get it back on.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

9 ай бұрын

Yea it's tricky to get that cable on, trick is to walk it on, get an edge over the pulley while pushing the carrier, very tight fit. There is a by the book way, you have to loosen the left pulley, it's on a bracket that you can loosen the screws and slide the pulley inward, but those screws are hard to get loose. good luck

@eddiespaghetti54321

9 ай бұрын

@@phoenixtypewriter2136 is the belt supposed to have a little bit of stretch to it or none at all? I was starting to think that the one on mine was too old or not stored properly and lost elasticity because it eventually ripped when I almost had it back on the pulleys

When trying to put the belt back around the spindles to move the carriage from side to side it would not fit back on. I loosened the two screws to the left of the left spindle to get the belt back on and then tightened it, however, now when moving the carriage from side to side the belt comes off. When the belt is on I tried turning on the machine but all the number lights come on. What can I do?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

I probable can't help unless I see machine in-person, those screws/plate are for belt alignment/tension

What tool do you use to turn the screw/nut???

@phoenixtypewriter2136

6 жыл бұрын

It's actually a typewriter bender tool, slot happened to same size as tip of screw. Small nut driver would work, or cut slot in a steel dowel & make a tool.

What size was rod at 6:20 that you cut slot in? How long?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

Umm about that big (sharpie) and about that long (8" ?) . . . . I'm not @ the shop to pull a tape measure out. That was a bender tool I use for other things usually So just a couple days ago I made a specific new tool from a large allen wench, cut the slot trial/error until it fit just right

What instrument did you use to turn the screw to engage the plunger?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

That is actually called a Bender, used to manipulate and form metal parts on typewriters. The slot in the end just happens to be just the right size to fit the tip of that screw end Never hurts to have 100's of specialty typewriter tools at ones disposal . . . .

@lukeknight733

5 жыл бұрын

Phoenix Typewriter I did all the steps and it still will not strike. Any other videos or ideas to help?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

@@lukeknight733 You can try removing plunger and rebuilding---> kzread.info/dash/bejne/hpqW0617ZLWZfMY.html Might be a broken wire going to plunger, might be a broken trace in the flex cable going to carrier Might be, but only seen this once, a bad driver on the PCB

I can't replace the motor band that I took out

I have readjusted the belt and it is staying on but the carriage goes to the right side and hangs up there making a loud noise.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

Right side , like end of line ? or left side like with carriage return Clean rails, bushings, stepping motor, etc . . .

@sheilacheek9984

5 жыл бұрын

@@phoenixtypewriter2136 Its on the right side.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

@@sheilacheek9984 Not normal , never seen that , so I don't know without looking at it in-person

Is there another fix for the hammer not striking? I replace the solenoid cap and it still won’t strike.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

4 жыл бұрын

Solenoid needs rebuilding, connection bad, carrier cable bad, PCB driver bad...... in that order

@reneewatson2378

4 жыл бұрын

Phoenix Typewriter I rebuilt the solenoid and cleaned it as well. Swapping parts from my other typewriter see it works. Thanks

where do i get the tools you are using?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

Жыл бұрын

Typewriter tool catalogs . . . . From 1970 ! E-bay is a source of typewriter tools. You can get spring hooks on Amazon

you need to replace the selenoid (plunger)cap. available aftermarket and new ones will outlast the machine

@phoenixtypewriter2136

7 жыл бұрын

I have replaced 1000 solenoid caps, this is the cheating method (no part needed). Only thing wrong with doing it this way is it makes a slightly louder, tinny sound/noise when it strikes. So yes if you would like, you can order the small pad from various places & replace deteriorated pad & not turn the adjustment screw. BTW, I have a trick to replacing pad with absolutely no disassembly that takes 1 minute tops !!

I tried using a 3/16 nut driver and it doesn’t work. Is there another tool that can work?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

6 жыл бұрын

I'm sure there is but couldn't tell you which size for sure Mine was part of my homemade bender tools I made 30 yrs ago

@connormason7907

5 жыл бұрын

7/32 nut driver like on the model Ms

@reneewatson2378

4 жыл бұрын

Connor Mason what is the model ms?

Waduhhhh lama amat buka covernya..

I am an expat living overseas and want to know how I can order parts for my Wheelwriter 2 ?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

7 жыл бұрын

I'm not set up to sell parts per say . . . . .Many places are. here's a short list www.typewriters.com/wheelwriter-parts.html www.cmfg.com/ibm-wheelwriter-parts.html national-elec.com/

@72Yonatan

7 жыл бұрын

Phoenix Typewriter - Thank you for this list, Phoenix.

where do i find that tool?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

Жыл бұрын

I custom made that tool from a T-bender, just cut the slot to fit the tip of the adjustment screw

How to repair the catrage

@phoenixtypewriter2136

Жыл бұрын

I don't understand question,

Stel hammernya aja pake kunci pas 5.5 mli...kelar

Well shit... I lost the nut that attaches to the solenoid

What do you do if the machine turns on, but nothing works? All lights come on.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

Does it POR, power on reset, move to left margin ? What lights flash & does it beep & how many of each ? these are diagnostic notifications Was machine working before/recently ? Does it have a printwheel installed ?

@aimeeinouye1163

5 жыл бұрын

All lights are lit. Typewriter itself doesn't make a sound, all keys, controls does not work when tapped. Only description I can come up with is it's frozen. Typewriter was working about a goid several years ago. Typewriter was in storage.

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

Hard to tell without an on hands inspection/tear down, sounds like possibly the power supply went bad

@aimeeinouye1163

5 жыл бұрын

😢....oh..that doesn't sound good...and there is no business that repairs typewriters any more here.😢

@phoenixtypewriter2136

5 жыл бұрын

Check here for a shop near you site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html

We're can I got parts at?

@phoenixtypewriter2136

6 жыл бұрын

I get a lot of my parts from other IBM typewriters that are salvaged, some parts are available on ebay. What part are you looking for ?

@davidarmstrong6716

5 жыл бұрын

Colman Mfg, Inc. has parts.

@daphnelewis7355

5 жыл бұрын

David Armstrong I am looking for a plunger

@davidarmstrong6716

5 жыл бұрын

@@daphnelewis7355 www.cmfg.com/