- Mech
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Re: URGENT wedding in 5 days! Need to fix Good Companion 4!!
vintagevixen wrote:
I've attached it to the main spring via the little hole (after de-gunking it like a particularly satisfying spot). I'll see if I can upload some pics.
So you've got one end of the fishing line attached to the end of the carriage, you've run the line under the carriage and attached the other end of the fishing line to the mainspring, and it's still not working, is that right? Did you wind the mainspring before you attached the fishing line to the mainspring?
Last edited by Mech (04-7-2015 01:41:28)
- vintagevixen
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Re: URGENT wedding in 5 days! Need to fix Good Companion 4!!
No, the problem is that I don't know where to run the line through the typewriter, or where to attach it at the opposite end.
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Thread Starter- TypewriterGuy
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Re: URGENT wedding in 5 days! Need to fix Good Companion 4!!
Look for the little hook on the end, it looks to me the little silver arm coming out, and just run it in a straight line to the mainspring.
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- vintagevixen
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Re: URGENT wedding in 5 days! Need to fix Good Companion 4!!
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Thread Starter- Uwe
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Re: URGENT wedding in 5 days! Need to fix Good Companion 4!!
The other end of the drawband should loop around a small post on the back rail of the carriage. It faces down toward the table the machine is sitting on. If you can't find it I'll upload a photo of the drawband around the post, but it should be pretty obvious once you look for it.
As for the path, the drawband runs from the mainspring, around the pulley, and then travels in a straight line to the post.
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- Mech
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Re: URGENT wedding in 5 days! Need to fix Good Companion 4!!
No, the problem is that I don't know where to run the line through the typewriter, or where to attach it at the opposite end.
I don't have a Good Companion, but here are pictures of the draw string attachment on my Smith-Corona Skyriter that may give you an idea of the drawstring path and anchoring location. The draw string on the Good Companion is apparently anchored on a post.
Note to prevent confusion: if you are facing the machine, the right side of the carriage is on your right, the left side of the carriage is on the left.
This is the view underneath the right side of the carriage where the draw string is anchored on my Smith-Corona Skyriter with a knot:
This is the view from above the typewriter showing the path of the drawstring:
Here is another typewriter's right carriage anchoring. The following picture is of a Corona Four - the underside view of the right side of the carriage where the draw string is anchored onto a screw via a hook.
- vintagevixen
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Re: URGENT wedding in 5 days! Need to fix Good Companion 4!!
I'VE DONE IT!!!!!!!!
Well nearly. How do I put more tension on the spring?
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Thread Starter- malole
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Re: URGENT wedding in 5 days! Need to fix Good Companion 4!!
Great stuff. I was wondering how you were getting on - glad to hear you are making progress! I don't know if there is any way to get more tension in the Imperial mainspring once the drawband has been fixed into position. From your pictures it looks to me like you might just have to detach the drawband and wind up your mainspring a bit more by hand, and then re-do the drawband. When you attach the drawband again, don't forget to have the carriage extended all the way to the right and to mind your fingers, because you'll have to keep that tension in the mainspring without it zipping out. When you wind the mainspring it should be wanting to zip out of your fingers. You might have to test it a few times to make sure you have enough tension, but don't over-do it. Try three rotations. You'll see the mainspring getting tighter in the gaps in the body of the drum. Good luck.
- Spazmelda
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Re: URGENT wedding in 5 days! Need to fix Good Companion 4!!
Ooh, but be super careful! I've never actually messed with a mainspring, but I think they can be a bit dangerous with all that tension wanting to pop them out. You wouldn't want metal lacerations right before the big day (or on any day). I guess I'd probably even recommend wearing some glasses or goggles, but I'm a bit of a freak about eye safety.
*Never mind. Malole has corrected my misconceptions about the drum and main spring. 
Last edited by Spazmelda (05-7-2015 12:31:59)
- malole
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Re: URGENT wedding in 5 days! Need to fix Good Companion 4!!
Don't worry! Should be perfectly safe, as long as you keep the mainspring inside the drum. When I say zip out of your fingers I mean, the drum turning on its fixing, :/ Eek, I would not like to take a drum apart! If I suspected the mainspring was broken in one of mine, I'd be looking about for a replacement, rather than meddle with all that coil. *shudder*
Last edited by malole (05-7-2015 12:30:46)
