Hi everyone!
I am an old time Apple //e user, getting back into it now and I have a question about an ImageWriter II, first-gen, I picked up and trying to rehab.
I am having some trouble with the ribbon motor and cam that is used to position the print cartridge in front of the print head. When I first got the printer, I needed to manually manipulate the cam to get it to get into position. I was able to get it to print, but I was sure that something wasn't right. I bought a color ribbon and realized that something seems bound up. I disassembled the cam post (has the hex nut w/o adjustment collar) and checked it out, and put it back on. Now, when the printer does its quick check during POST, if the cam is in the top-most position, it will now freely move downward, where it didn't before, but the motor will not turn the cam back upward. This positions the ribbon too low for the black only cartridge, and will print in yellow on the color.
Here are my questions for you folks with experience:
- What is the standard procedure at start up and when ready to print of the cam. Will it go all the way to the bottom, then move all the way to the top? (this is black cartridge only - not pressing the pin switch on the ribbon carrier)
- There is a set of thin copper strips mounted to the metal printhead carrier that look like a potential limit switch. Is it a switch, or just a mechanical spring to keep the cam from over-travelling?
- Is it possible that the wirings in the ribbon motor can be burnt out in one direction, but not the other?
When the cam attempts to move in the opposite direction, I get a buzzing sound, but can't tell if it is because the cam is already in the lowest position.
I look forward to spending more time on here. I forgot how much I miss my //e from the old days.
Thanks,
Ron
