[GreenKeys] Model 15 Mainshafts

[Sheldon Daitch]

George,

so many memories in your narrative.

Sheldon

"George B. Hutchison" wrote:
> 
> GreenKeyers - - -
> 
> The mainshaft on a model 15 is an item which should be removed and cleaned
> separately when cleaning the typing unit.
> 
> The reason for this is that the mainshaft can be perceived to be a "small
> world" within itself.
> 
> Let me explain...
> 
> The 15 mainshaft is hollow. Correctly assembled there is a central felt wick
> which runs pretty much the length of the shaft. Additionally, there are
> several cross-wicks which are located in the areas where the shaft has been
> penetrated to provide lubrication for the spacing gear, the bail drive
> arrangement, and a couple of other places.
> 
> The wicking provides a means of timed, continuous lubrication of those
> components which are not affixed to the mainshaft with a screw.
> 
> A rough means of checking a mainshaft is to remove the plug and leather
> gasket located at the drive gear end, taking a Plews or other pressure oiler
> and using a shop rag for a gasket, pump #10 non-detergent oil into the
> shaft, and observing whether or not the oil will come out of the small hole
> which is in the center of the selector cam retaining screw on the selector
> end. If oil comes out, then things might be OK. If you cannot see any oil
> coming out, then chances are the mainshaft has heated up somewhre along its
> length and caused the shaft to plug up.
> 
> The remedy for a plugged mainshaft is to disassemble the shaft by removing
> all the pieces and drill out the mainshaft with a mainshaft drill, which is
> about 1/8" diameter and perhaps a foot long. Drills similar to mainshaft
> drills can nowadays be obtained at most hardware stores or industrial
> suppliers. The current usage for long drills is for activities such as
> burglar alarm installation. The cross wicks can be nudged out with a paper
> clip
> 
> Teletype had a mainshaft wick kit for the fifteen which contained the
> central wick and the small cross wicks. Chances are there are none
> available. The model 15 will run fine without the wicks, but regular oiling
> is required, and this can be accomplished by occasionally pumping oil in the
> gear end until it starts to ooze out the selector end. It depends on how
> many hours the machine runs between oilings.  Be sure you have an official
> oil plug with fashionable leather sealing washer.
> 
> KCID in Caldwell, Idaho had a fifteen in a soundproof box right behind the
> announcer. They would not allow PM visits, so the only time the machine was
> serviced was after it burned up. The machine ran so hot that after it was
> shut off and the box disassembled, it took about forty-five minutes for it
> to cool before the screws could be loosened and the typing unit removed. It
> was pointless to try and service the machine which had failed. Generally it
> was full of red-rust (fret-corrosion) such that it would take four hours to
> get it back in shape, and at one or two in the morning I was just not up to
> spending all night working on it. I kept several spare typing units, and
> they always got a replacement.
> 
> The KCID machine was lubricated with a 50-50 by volume mixture of 30 weight
> non-detergent oil and STP (remember Andy Granatelli?). After the machine
> heated up the STP kept the lubrication present. I could usually expect
> another call from them in four to six months.
> 
> I will also repeat my periodic recommendation that the best grease you can
> obtain for any teletype is Conoco Super-Sta. This is a #2 Lithium-based
> grease which has a tackiness agent added to it such that it sticks very well
> to any machinery. I have a tube of Super-Sta which I first used in Idaho
> some thirty years ago, and it is still just fine. I use it to lubricate the
> nose sprocket on the chainsaw. It can be obtained from most Conoco
> distributors from the east coast to perhaps Idaho. Seems to me the price is
> about $2.50 or so per grease gun tube. The avid teletype enthusiast can get
> it in five-gallon pails.
> 
> KS-7471 Grease (official teletype grease) turns to concrete in about 3-4
> years. I have a can of it which I guess I should send to Don House for his
> museum. Looking into it it looks like the Edwards AFB dry-lake bed, all
> cracked and wrinkled. Awful stuff.
> 
> Today's activity will be to go to Auburn and ship those items expected by
> others to the extent I have things packed. Bob Camp and Roy Norris will be
> getting their items on pallets. Gil Smith's goodies will be UPS, and I have
> yet to find some rugged box or boxes for John Lawson's BRPEs. Interesting to
> note that the weight of the picture tapes for Bob Camp is somewhere between
> sixty and eighty pounds, and they fill five boxes. Good Luck, Bob!!
> 
> Larry, W7JYJ wandered off with several 28 typing units and motors, and a 28
> KSR keyboard and typing unit, equipped with a 3-speed gearbox..
> 
> Jack Hart's pile is extensive as well, but may take another week before I
> have it all ready to depart.
> 
> And so it goes.
> 
> 73, folks...
> 
> George, W7TTY
> 
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