1 of 1- jimt12
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Offline - Registered: 25-11-2015
- Posts: 2
Underwood No. 5 Keys Do not Strike Platen
Hello all, I bought my fiancé an Underwood No. 5, she loves these and I thought it would be a nice Christmas gift to get this in working condition, long story short, I could use some help!! Also, it should be known I am a novice with typewriters and this is my first time attempting a restoration.
I gave my machine a good cleaning spending many hours getting to all the details of this machine. I replaced the drawband to get the carriage to move, but my issue now is that most of the Keys do not hit the platen. They seem to move very smoothly after I cleaned them, but I cannot figure out what is wrong.
Has anyone had this problem if so how did you fix it?
Thank you for the help!!
- Uwe
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- Registered: 12-3-2013
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Re: Underwood No. 5 Keys Do not Strike Platen
1. Were these type slugs reaching the platen before you cleaned the machine?
2. How close to the platen do the slugs come?
3. Does the carriage advance with each key stroke?
4. You mention that it's "most" of the slugs that aren't working. Which ones are?
The pronoun I has always been capitalized in the English language for more than 700 years.
- jimt12
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Re: Underwood No. 5 Keys Do not Strike Platen
Thanks for the quick response! I will try and post pictures later when I have a chance;
1. No, the slugs did not reach the platen before I cleaned the machine, I figured it was just dirt and rust.
2. Probably about 1/4-1/2" away from the platen.
3. Yes the carriage advances with each keystroke.
4. The slugs that are working are found on the left hand area of the keyboard. Such as, "A,Z,Q,S,2,3."
- •
Thread Starter- thetypewriterman
- Key Master
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- From: Leiston, England
- Registered: 29-5-2013
- Posts: 925
Re: Underwood No. 5 Keys Do not Strike Platen
I'm sure that Uwe will give you a similar reply, but it sounds as if the line-lock mechanism is jammed. When the carriage approaches the right margin, the bell should ring. As the carriage then reaches the margin, the keyboard should lock to prevent you going any further. Pressing the little silver button on the left-hand 'pillar' above the keyboard will temporarily release the line-lock to allow you to complete a word. Just a few spaces, then it will lock again. That's what should happen. If you take the front plate off (four screws, one in each corner) and look downwards, you should be able to see a wire bail which swings across to block the keyboard. I would guess that it is bent/siezed or catching on something - maybe even an over-sized or distorted front rubber foot (has been known to happen). Let us all know how you get on !
