I have an IW II that I've been messing with trying to get working. Every time I clear one issue, another seems to pop up. The current issue is that randomly while printing, the printer makes a grinding noise, and the printer seems to lose track of where the carriage is. So then it starts printing lines horizontally offset compared to where they should be.
I can't figure out what is happening. As far as I can tell, the carriage is directly belt driven off the motor, and the only other part in play is the idler wheel on the other end of the belt. When powered off I can freely move the carriage back and forth with no issues. So I can't see where any gears would even come into play. I can see some gears on the carriage. But I'm assuming they are there to advance the ribbon through the cartridge. And I can see the cartridge advancing the ribbon fine when I manually move the cartridge back and forth. And I can't believe a ribbon advance gear could cause the entire carriage to jam up.
I don't believe it is the home switch. As the way I understand it, when it powers on, it moves left till the switch makes contact on the motor bracket. I'm assuming the printer then treats that position as "zero" and moves it relative to that. If the switch were bad, I suspect it would just slam to the left and keep trying to move left when powered on.
It's random when it happens. Sometimes it happens maybe 1/4 of the way into one page. Sometimes it will print 2-3 pages fine before it happens. I've been trying to print a banner in print shop, and it's not consistent when it happens.
Any ideas what might be wrong?
The ribbon could be jamming. But my guess is the bar needs to be oiled. I'm just got a oki 82a and I had clean the **** out of both bars the print head rides on. Then lube the **** out of it. Then finally after a couple of times. It straighened up. I would suguest a few other things. But since I don't have a apple writer. I don't know what else ot check. Oh and are you doing text or graphics? I have had some graphic programs that got to a certain part. But it would freak out. That would be easy to find. Same spot each time. But I really going for the lube on the bar.
Thanks,
Josh
I don't think it's lubrication related. I can move the carriage back and forth easily. And the ribbon always seems to advance. I was trying to use Print shop at the time it was acting up, if it matters.
That being said, I'm willing to give it a shot. Especially since it can't hurt and could probably stand to be lubed anyway. What is the recommended oil for something like this? I have some 3 in 1 oil, which is a pretty light weight oil.
The best lube for these printer bars is the spray type silicone lube like you use on car weatherstripping - spray it generously onto a cloth then apply to the bar from end to end and move the head so you can lube the part hidden by the head. As you do that it will also clean off the old greasy/oil. Silicone lube won't gunk up like regular oils over time.