Facit carriage bearings install

The Facit portable typewriters TP1, TP2 and Privat/1620 are notorious for two things, the escapement freezing up when the old lube gets gummy (easy fix) and the magically smooth carriage. Facit used a system of several small balls in a tubular carrier to achieve a lightness that no other typewriter brand come close.
To allow for maximum smoothness when renovating a Facit, you really should disassemble the bearing assembly and have everything cleaned thoroughly. Adding grease or oil to these parts will turn them into dust magnets and the smoothness will soon be lost.
I have no idea what special tricks they once used in the factory, but this is my method of assembling the carriage assembly dry. The balls are normally standard 1/8" (3.175 mm) steel balls. The white balls I use in this video are made from ceramic zirconia, hence the white colour.

[@ripemangosmdm7997]

That’s a lot of bearings…..what an intriguing mechanism for holding them as well.

[@the.writetyper]

Haven't worked on a Facit before, but thank you for sharing this.

[@scuderianorreno]

And thank you! I've watched pretty much all your videos. :)

[@the.writetyper]

@@scuderianorreno that's great, thanks!

[@taskyprianou]

Wow!

[@berniepokorski6608]

As the owner of a 1962 FACIT T-2 standard (full-size desktop) typewriter, I have to ask are the carriage roller bearings and their 'carriers' in it similar to the ones that are shown in your video? 🤔

[@scuderianorreno]

Yes the T2 is also using the tubular system. Should be pretty similar in most ways albeit a bit longer.

[@berniepokorski6608]

@@scuderianorreno Thank You for answering my question...😄