1 of 1- ztyper
- Key Master
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- From: Somewhere in New Jersey
- Registered: 01-10-2014
- Posts: 773
Noiseless mainspring tension adjuster stuck
One of the reasons why I love the Noiseless standard, is the mainspring tension adjuster. However, the lever to decrease the tension is... stuck. I had to manually turn the mainspring when I first got the typewriter to increase the tension because the slot for the screwdriver was stuck too. It seems like a mechanical problem rather than gunk. Though I'm not sure. Any suggestions?
Also, any general cleaning techniques for the Noiseless standard? It's all so tightly packed together that I can't reach the mechanisms. The type-bars are sort of sluggish so when I type fast, they clash. Any advice from other Noiseless owners would be wonderful.
A high schooler with a lot of typewriters. That's pretty much about it.
- Uwe
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Re: Noiseless mainspring tension adjuster stuck
Manufacturer? Year? Model? I don't know whether you're asking about a Noiseless standard (the manufacturer), or a Remington Noiseless model like a '20s Model 6, or a late '40s Model 10.
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- TypewriterGuy
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Re: Noiseless mainspring tension adjuster stuck
My Royal Standard had the screw too to adjust the mainspring, and it was just stuck. I had to put a lot of force on it to get it to loosen. But once I did that, it was fine.
Maybe try soaking the screw with PB Blaster, then try unscrewing/turning it?
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- treefaller
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Re: Noiseless mainspring tension adjuster stuck
If this is regarding the Underwood Noiseless standard (and I think it is) then the Ames manual says to loosen the lock nut first, then turn the adjusting screw in the middle. I had mine completely out of the machine (which isn't too difficult) so I liberally oiled everything with gun oil and worked the lock nut loose and then played with the adjusting screw while the spring drum was out of the machine. If I remember right, I tightened the lock nut until there was starting to be some resistance on the adjusting screw, but not too much or the adjusting screw wouldn't turn at all.
Then I left it that way and put it back in. Now i just insert a screwdriver and turn the screw to the right to tighten the spring. I probably should snug up the lock nut after that, but it works okay for me to leave it so far. I also worked the ratchet mechanism loose when I had it out so all that works fine on my machine. Gun oil is great stuff. Good luck!
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- ztyper
- Key Master
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- From: Somewhere in New Jersey
- Registered: 01-10-2014
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Re: Noiseless mainspring tension adjuster stuck
Oh, sorry Uwe, must've forgot the essential details again....
It's a 1940 Underwood Noiseless Standard
A high schooler with a lot of typewriters. That's pretty much about it.
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Thread Starter- ztyper
- Key Master
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- From: Somewhere in New Jersey
- Registered: 01-10-2014
- Posts: 773
Re: Noiseless mainspring tension adjuster stuck
Apparently all I had to do was loosen the lock nut like treefaller suggested. Thanks for the help!
A high schooler with a lot of typewriters. That's pretty much about it.
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Thread Starter