Hello all - I am having trouble with the tab mechanism on a Torpedo 18b, and I believe it to be an issue with the tab brake. When the tab is engaged, the carriage moves but then comes to a slow halt after about an inch. I have located what I think is the tab brake, which is held within a starwheel set above the main starwheel. Working properly, I think this system operates by having the tab starwheel stop when the tab is engaged, making the containing tab brake stationary while the main starwheel continues to turn below it at a slightly slower speed, having come under the slight friction of the tab brake. However, in my machine when the brake tab starwheel is engaged and comes to a stop, the main starwheel also grinds to a halt when it should continue turning under the tension of the carriage (there is plenty of tension on the draw band).

I've tried cleaning with mineral spirit and flushing out the space between the tab brake and the main starwheel beneath it, using a very small screwdriver to gently pry up the tab brake and squirting mineral spirit and compressed air between the two. This helps but only temporarily. I was thinking of putting a drop of fine machine oil between the tab brake and main starwheel but wanted to look here for advice from people who might know the Torpedo 18b better than I.
 

Hello - working on a speedline corona standard, and I need to remove the platen. Before I jump in and start experimentally unscrewing, could anyone offer instructions on this process? This model does not have a plunger in the centre of its left knob, as is the case with later silent or clipper models.
Thanks!

Hello all,
This week a Blue Bird/Torpedo 20 turned up in the post with visible damages to its case. Upon opening the case and simply touching the carriage, it flew to the left and off of its rails. Luckily there was no denting to the body of the typewriter, which is in very good condition. However, I am stumped as to how to put the carriage back on, as there is a barrier mount near the carriage rails that prevents the carriage from advancing onto the rails more than a few inches. The screws for this carriage mount are buried deep in the machine, and I have not been able to get any purchase on them with a screw driver. So far I have considered disassembling the right end of the carriage to remove the part with the metal tab that bangs against the barrier mount. I have shown this in the linked YouTube video.

If you have any experience with this machine or any helpful suggestions to pass on, I would be very grateful.


 

Haha, your entire response gradually tipped me toward the decision not to do it, but "MUST you do this?" was the final nail in the coffin of that idea. I like a challenge, but I will clean around it for now. Thank you for your reply.

Hello all - In the process of a much needed cleaning I have become stumped as to how to remove the paper tray of my SM4. I have the platen and front feed rollers out but am wary of pulling out the paper tray incorrectly. I have read that the tray is held in place by two 'U-shaped' clips that need to be prised off in order to release it from a metal bar below, as described in this blog entry: http://silveretteseiko.blogspot.com/2017/01/replacing-silencer-spring-on-olympia-sm4.html

However, having pushed and pulled at the clips under the carriage with no success, I am hesitant about doing this incorrectly and damaging something. Can anyone provide some advice on this process? Does it just need a firm hand to push the 'U clip' up off the metal bar? Thanks in advance.