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Hi - Both margin stops are not gripping onto the Margin rack teeth properly and so the carriage simply pushes them away rather than stopping or ringing the bell. They are lined up properly with the teeth and will lock on when I push the turned knobs but there seems to be no tension holding them place onto the teeth. They fall back to the open position and slide along the rod. I have removed the left hand margin stop to look at it and was hoping to screw the pivot screw tighter but it will go no further. Is there a spring missing? How can I tighten this up? Thanks :-)
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Does the margin release lever have tension on it when it's compressed? I don't recall having had to take a margin stop apart, but it certainly should feel like there is a spring in it. When you stop "pinching" the release lever it should definitely spring back to its repose. If there is tension in that lever then we're looking at another issue, but one thing at a time...
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There is no tension in the margin stop at all. If pinch together there's no resistance and it stays there. If I pull apart there's no resistance and it stays there. There doesn't seem to be a spring or place for a spring.
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If you remove the locking lever's screw, and then the lever, you might see where a spring would be fitted. If a spring has broken - as opposed to it being lost - there's usually a piece of it left in the part that it was connected to. Keep in mind that springs come in many different shapes and materials, and not all are made from coiled wire. A spring can, for example, also be a flat, flexible piece of metal.
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Yes, you are right. Now I've opened up the margin stop I can see an empty hole that must have contained a small spring at one point. Both margin stops have one, both empty. I'll need to root around for a tiny screw to go in there!!
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Oh dear - nothing small enough. Where would I start to look for something the right size to buy? Is there anything else i could use instead?
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I have bought a couple of tiny springs for the margin stops and they are now working :-) My typewriter is now semi-functional and will move across the page and turn the ribbon when I hit the keys and stop at the margins stop. I have two issues left
1) the keys don't hit the paper
2) The shift key lift the carriage up but it doesnt come down again
This video shows both issues. Any help much appreciated...feels like I'm almost there :-)
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Actually, now I have the ribbon in I can see that the central keys are hitting the paper but the keys at the other edges of the keyboard are not. Also, the platter doesn't seem to be gripping the paper??