I really like the way you explained your problem solving process. I have twenty-four typewriters and none of them were without issues when I obtained them. The process of tracking down the primary cause and correcting it is one of the things I enjoy about manual typewriters.
Hi, Joe, I've figured out two adjustments that will solve the well-documented Skyriter skipping problem 95% of the time (neither of which are mentioned in your video, so I thought I'd share). First, the easiest: try backing off on the drawstring tension one or even two turns of the mainspring wheel. You want the minimum tension required to draw the carriage all the way to the end while still allowing for regular typing speeds. This solves the skipping problem in at least half the cases. The 2nd fix involves adjusting the little rocker bar that rests just above the escapement wheel. This rocker has two adjustable screws on either side that act as pivot points (items "N" & "L" in the linked diagram below from Munk's article on this problem). I find the screw that is furthest out from the rocker, loosen the locking nut with a mini 1/4" open-end wrench, then screw in the adjustable screw 1/4 turn at a time, testing the space bar after each turn, until it no longer advances the carriage. Then I back out the adjustable screw 1/4 turn (it usually takes only one) until the space bar freely advances the carriage. Tighten down the locking nut, being careful that you hold the adjustable screw steady, & test for the skipping problem. It *should* be completely solved. Hope this wasn't overly confusing. If it was, feel free to message me & I'll send actual pictures with annotations. Here's a link to Munk's diagram of the mechanism in question: munk.org/typecast/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/SCN_0007.jpg. And here's a link to his full repair explanation, which is far more involved than my fix, which should take a total of five minutes or so: munk.org/typecast/2018/11/23/adjusting-escapement-trip-on-smith-corona-skyriter-solve-skipping-letters/
@@Joe_VanCleave Took me three full years of flailing about (rending of hair, gnashing of teeth) to discover these fixes. Hope they bring peace & unity to you & Sky.
Yeah, so you're talking about a late trip and rebound causing skipping. Probably the most common cause, I'd gather. I'd just like to know why Royals are so dogone notorious for that even when they're correctly adjusted.
Very methodical. Nice. When I get skipping, mostly it's because I screw up and brush the edge of the key next to the one I want to hit. So its very hard for me to tell if it is the typewriter or me! 😆
Thank you for this video! I'm restoring a skywriter for my daughter who is a writer and headed to college this fall. This is part of her graduation gift and your videos have been extremely helpful while I've been working on this project. Great work!
I'm so glad you were able to solve these issues! One of my favorite things about manual typewriters is that every problem has a physical solution. Like a little puzzle.
This particular video is testimony to the value of persistence in isolating problems. This was made especially noteworthy when you used the actual appearance of the typewritten letters themselves to aid in the diagnosis. Enjoy your videos very much and have gleaned a lot of very usable information. Keep up the good work and for being so generous with your hard-won knowledge. You would make a pretty good detective, I'd bet. Thanks, again. Mike Kirwan - Kenmore, WA.
This was very helpful! Thank you so much. I have one of each of the skyriters (50s model and 60s model) I'm in love with the older model, better than anything I've ever had. But it skips a bit so this may be a good beginning point to problem solving
ooh, the individual Sublever 3-A for G & H were the issue, huh? nice diagnosis! Certainly glad you can trust the Skyriter now - great machines (: more documentation on diagnosing Skyriter skips, in case someone needs it: munk.org/typecast/2018/11/23/adjusting-escapement-trip-on-smith-corona-skyriter-solve-skipping-letters/
My Royal QDL has a skipping problem…also mostly h. I adjusted the escapement pawl which has almost completely eliminated it and touch control on zero is best. It does it more on higher settings. I may eventually increase the type slug trip distance a little bit. Part of it is determining if it is me or the machine.
I'd LOVE to have one of these. But sadly the Smith Coronas are not really appearing a lot here in Germany..... This model really reminds me a lot of my Olympia Splendid 66.
Thanks for posting this video, Joe! I will try this sort of process on a couple of my Royal QDLs which are suffering the same fate at the moment and for the same reason - skipping!
Really excellent sleuthing there Joe! Glad you got the Skyriter running well finally. I’m still hoping to try one myself to see if I like it compared to my Hermes Baby/Rockets. :)
Great video, and exactly what I was looking for! How did you go about bending the U-shaped slots that press against the universal bar for the individual keys? I still have two keys that seem to need that kind of adjustment on my 1961 Skyriter. Thanks!
I just got my Olivetti Lettera 22 delivered today. And it skips if I don't press the keys all the way down. I was a little disheartened. But your video is inspiring. These are great machines but always have some small flaws which we need to learn to creatively get around if we are not able to physically better them. It is my first typewriter. I dream to own more. :)
They can be serviced by professionals to eliminate the skipping, but can be tricky for amateurs due to the necessity for considerable disassembly required to access the escapement mechanism for cleaning and adjustment. Finding peace with mechanical typewriters and their sometimes nagging issues is as much an inner journey as it is a search for technical perfection. I always have to remind myself that the end goal is creative writing. Good luck and happy writing!
The Facit is a medium sized portable like an Olympia SM9. Bigger, heavier but more features and better build quality than the Skyriter - but not nearly as portable.
Joe, I enjoyed your video series and would like to know if you can help me with a 1961 Skyriter. The machine was recently cleaned and serviced, but the key action remains ledden. I tried adjusting the main escapement, but no significant results. Would you happen to have any suggestions? Or is this just how the early 60s Skyriter is supposed to feel. I have a '61 Sterling that is quite snappy.
@@Joe_VanCleave Correct, the touch is too heavy. It takes more effort to press the keys than my other SC typewriters and the slug makes a light strike on the platen without pressing hard on the keys. The touch adjustment lever has little to no effect.
@@glennbeville2075 Not only do the type bar joints and linkages need to be degreased and cleaned, but everything to do with the ribbon lift and spool movement also, because what drives the ribbon movement are the key levers moving the universal bar, which operates the ribbon. The touch adjustment controls spring tension on the universal bar; but if the ribbon system isn’t operating freely it’ll add increased tension to the touch. Also, the so-called “ring and cylinder “ adjustment can affect how dark the imprint is. This setting controls how far forward or back the carriage sits relative to the print position. On some machines this setting is preset from the factory, but a hard platen can often shrink with age and make it appear the platen is too far back from the print position, causing a faint imprint.
I can't find something like that here where I live, and I myself prefer the electric type writers, because of my disabilityu, but machines like that one should be used. The great thing is , no viruses to worry about.
I really like the way you explained your problem solving process. I have twenty-four typewriters and none of them were without issues when I obtained them. The process of tracking down the primary cause and correcting it is one of the things I enjoy about manual typewriters.
Yeah and when you actually solve and fix it, it's even better. Feels like breathing new life into something others would have considered "junk".
Hi, Joe, I've figured out two adjustments that will solve the well-documented Skyriter skipping problem 95% of the time (neither of which are mentioned in your video, so I thought I'd share).
First, the easiest: try backing off on the drawstring tension one or even two turns of the mainspring wheel. You want the minimum tension required to draw the carriage all the way to the end while still allowing for regular typing speeds. This solves the skipping problem in at least half the cases.
The 2nd fix involves adjusting the little rocker bar that rests just above the escapement wheel. This rocker has two adjustable screws on either side that act as pivot points (items "N" & "L" in the linked diagram below from Munk's article on this problem). I find the screw that is furthest out from the rocker, loosen the locking nut with a mini 1/4" open-end wrench, then screw in the adjustable screw 1/4 turn at a time, testing the space bar after each turn, until it no longer advances the carriage. Then I back out the adjustable screw 1/4 turn (it usually takes only one) until the space bar freely advances the carriage. Tighten down the locking nut, being careful that you hold the adjustable screw steady, & test for the skipping problem. It *should* be completely solved.
Hope this wasn't overly confusing. If it was, feel free to message me & I'll send actual pictures with annotations.
Here's a link to Munk's diagram of the mechanism in question: munk.org/typecast/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/SCN_0007.jpg.
And here's a link to his full repair explanation, which is far more involved than my fix, which should take a total of five minutes or so: munk.org/typecast/2018/11/23/adjusting-escapement-trip-on-smith-corona-skyriter-solve-skipping-letters/
Wow, great advice. I'll try to make a video incorporating your tips. Thank you!
@@Joe_VanCleave Took me three full years of flailing about (rending of hair, gnashing of teeth) to discover these fixes. Hope they bring peace & unity to you & Sky.
Yeah, so you're talking about a late trip and rebound causing skipping. Probably the most common cause, I'd gather. I'd just like to know why Royals are so dogone notorious for that even when they're correctly adjusted.
Very methodical. Nice. When I get skipping, mostly it's because I screw up and brush the edge of the key next to the one I want to hit. So its very hard for me to tell if it is the typewriter or me! 😆
Thank you for this video! I'm restoring a skywriter for my daughter who is a writer and headed to college this fall. This is part of her graduation gift and your videos have been extremely helpful while I've been working on this project. Great work!
I'm so glad you were able to solve these issues! One of my favorite things about manual typewriters is that every problem has a physical solution. Like a little puzzle.
Great tips on how to approach correcting this problem. Thanks for making it available to us.
This particular video is testimony to the value of persistence in isolating problems. This was made especially noteworthy when you used the actual appearance of the typewritten letters themselves to aid in the diagnosis. Enjoy your videos very much and have gleaned a lot of very usable information. Keep up the good work and for being so generous with your hard-won knowledge. You would make a pretty good detective, I'd bet. Thanks, again.
Mike Kirwan - Kenmore, WA.
Thank you!
Brilliant detective work Joe!
This was very helpful! Thank you so much. I have one of each of the skyriters (50s model and 60s model) I'm in love with the older model, better than anything I've ever had. But it skips a bit so this may be a good beginning point to problem solving
ooh, the individual Sublever 3-A for G & H were the issue, huh? nice diagnosis! Certainly glad you can trust the Skyriter now - great machines (:
more documentation on diagnosing Skyriter skips, in case someone needs it: munk.org/typecast/2018/11/23/adjusting-escapement-trip-on-smith-corona-skyriter-solve-skipping-letters/
My Royal QDL has a skipping problem…also mostly h. I adjusted the escapement pawl which has almost completely eliminated it and touch control on zero is best. It does it more on higher settings. I may eventually increase the type slug trip distance a little bit. Part of it is determining if it is me or the machine.
I'd LOVE to have one of these. But sadly the Smith Coronas are not really appearing a lot here in Germany..... This model really reminds me a lot of my Olympia Splendid 66.
Thanks for posting this video, Joe! I will try this sort of process on a couple of my Royal QDLs which are suffering the same fate at the moment and for the same reason - skipping!
Really excellent sleuthing there Joe! Glad you got the Skyriter running well finally. I’m still hoping to try one myself to see if I like it compared to my Hermes Baby/Rockets. :)
This British made Skyriter I’d say is a bit flimsier than my 1953 Rocket, but better touch and carriage return lever.
I have to use a minimum of 3 on the touch control on my Smith Corona typewriters, otherwise I have problems.
Great video, and exactly what I was looking for! How did you go about bending the U-shaped slots that press against the universal bar for the individual keys? I still have two keys that seem to need that kind of adjustment on my 1961 Skyriter. Thanks!
I just got my Olivetti Lettera 22 delivered today. And it skips if I don't press the keys all the way down. I was a little disheartened. But your video is inspiring. These are great machines but always have some small flaws which we need to learn to creatively get around if we are not able to physically better them. It is my first typewriter. I dream to own more. :)
They can be serviced by professionals to eliminate the skipping, but can be tricky for amateurs due to the necessity for considerable disassembly required to access the escapement mechanism for cleaning and adjustment.
Finding peace with mechanical typewriters and their sometimes nagging issues is as much an inner journey as it is a search for technical perfection. I always have to remind myself that the end goal is creative writing. Good luck and happy writing!
Hi. How it works compared to Facit 1620 ? Thanks !
The Facit is a medium sized portable like an Olympia SM9. Bigger, heavier but more features and better build quality than the Skyriter - but not nearly as portable.
do you try skipping down the street with the typewriter under your arm? that might reveal something.
Yea ... not sure what it would reveal though! But I prefer over the shoulder than under the arm!
Joe, I enjoyed your video series and would like to know if you can help me with a 1961 Skyriter. The machine was recently cleaned and serviced, but the key action remains ledden. I tried adjusting the main escapement, but no significant results. Would you happen to have any suggestions? Or is this just how the early 60s Skyriter is supposed to feel. I have a '61 Sterling that is quite snappy.
Assuming it was thoroughly cleaned and degreased, this may just be the way it will feel. Is the touch too heavy feeling?
@@Joe_VanCleave Correct, the touch is too heavy. It takes more effort to press the keys than my other SC typewriters and the slug makes a light strike on the platen without pressing hard on the keys. The touch adjustment lever has little to no effect.
Rather, unless you press hard on the keys.
@@glennbeville2075 Not only do the type bar joints and linkages need to be degreased and cleaned, but everything to do with the ribbon lift and spool movement also, because what drives the ribbon movement are the key levers moving the universal bar, which operates the ribbon. The touch adjustment controls spring tension on the universal bar; but if the ribbon system isn’t operating freely it’ll add increased tension to the touch.
Also, the so-called “ring and cylinder “ adjustment can affect how dark the imprint is. This setting controls how far forward or back the carriage sits relative to the print position. On some machines this setting is preset from the factory, but a hard platen can often shrink with age and make it appear the platen is too far back from the print position, causing a faint imprint.
I can't find something like that here where I live, and I myself prefer the electric type writers, because of my disabilityu, but machines like that one should be used. The great thing is , no viruses to worry about.
Nice sleuthing and video.