Thanks

It's really hard to advise without seeing things and trying it ourselves.  I know that doesn't help you.

If you want to send me any pictures or videos I'd be happy to look and see how they compare to mine

Check under the machine (or remove any panel) to se if anything obvious has dislodged like a spring.  

I'm wondering if the escapement mechanism is dirty and has stuck in a position which effectively means the carriage is continually free as opposed to being locked into each respective tooth of the gear.

I don't have a Stirling, I have a Super, but mine is exposed underneath.  If yours is like mine, the escapement is the geared circular toothed wheel at the bottom middle of the underside of the typewriter.  Have you attempted to clean the machine yet? maybe dust off the machine very carefully with a brush, making sure you don't knock off any springs.  I don't like compressed air because it can blow dirt further in.  Then when the machine is clear of removable debris and is just oily and sticky, clean it with white spirits, making sure you don't get any on any of the plastic keys or finish.  Do this outdoors as it gives you a headache.  Use a clean brush and apply to all the metal moving parts, wiping any other parts with a lint free cloth. Keep moving the various keys on the keyboard so that all of the parts get a good wiggle whilst they are damp from the white spirits.  When the machine is spotless, wipe it dry.  I use a hair dryer and have never had a problem, but, white spirit is highly flammable so you do this AT YOUR OWN RISK.  Once all the white spirits has been evaporated away, very lightly oil any moving parts with the tiniest of drops of high quality oil, like sewing machine oil, or gun oil. If you're not sure whether to oil it, check in with us.  Over oiling or oil in the wrong place can cause further problems.  Don't use grease or cheap oil.  This hopefully should free up the mechanism.

 

Thanks touch typist.  

Well, that shows how an amateur can cock things up.  I thought the optic sensors looked like glass, hence I thought alcohol (Meths) would be ok, I am assuming they are some kind of clear plastic then? doesn't appear to have done it any harm, i.e no hazing.  

I don't have any contact cleaner and don't want to spend any money on the thing since it was free and I have no money

I've put the daisy wheel on eBay and the ribbon and correction cartridge.  

I sold a daisy wheel the other day for 7.99 for a machine that cos me 1 pound to buy but I could never get working because the plastic gear which powers the platen was broken.  Maybe someone will want a 1988 Olivetti daisy wheel and ribbon.  The thing is ridiculously huge, its about 4 inches either side bigger than a conventional pc keyboard. When you pick one corner up, the other corner stays on the surface like a cheap sofa! the thing has no screws its all squeezed plastic clips so I'm not that bothered about it. I spent an hour or so trying everything to get it working, its ugly, plastic and fifty and takes up the width of a cooker.

Really appreciate all the help though.

Hi,,

Thanks for your advice, I tried but nothing worked, however, I have worked out the noise appears to be coming from the motor which is under the carriage and moves the ribbon up and down.  The motor attaches to a plastic cam with a spirally shaped cam path which a plastic part follows and moves the ribbon up and down.  That part moves perfectly, its almost as if the motor is getting a confused signal. Its kind of pulsing

Cheers