Ribbon Installation Guide

Tip: Wearing rubber gloves or using tweezers to handle the ribbon will help alleviate the spread of ink onto you  and your clothing.

Step 1:  Move the ribbon pressure rollers (marked R-1 and R-2 in Figure Below) out and away from the ribbon spool.  A slight downward pressure on the knobs will hold them in a position away from the spool.

Step 2:  Loosen the thumb screw at the center of the ink spool (marked E).  Remove the ink spool by lifting it up. 

Step 3:  Push the ribbon guide clips (marked C-1 and C-2) toward the type bars and toward the inside of the writer (see arrows). Do not loosen the screws.  To do so may adversely affect the printing.  Notice the path of the ribbon through the guide slots before lifting the old ribbon out of the guide slots to determine how the ribbon fits through the guide slots for reinsertion of new ribbon.

Step 4:  While the spool is off, wipe off any excess ink from the writer. 

Step 5:  Place the edge of the new ribbon in the left guide slot; then close the guide clip (C-1).  Next, place the ribbon in the right guide slot and close guide clip (C-2).  Make sure the ribbon is not twisted or wrinkled and moves freely between the type bars and platen.

Step 6:  Place the ink spool in the open loop of the ribbon, then lower the spool onto the spool post.  Be careful to guide the ribbon to the outside of the points marked A-1 and A-2 as shown in the figure below.

Step 7:  Release the pressure rollers (R-1 and R-2) by pulling up on the locking knobs.

Step 8:  Turn the spool with a pencil or pen.  The ribbon should move freely as the spool turns.  If it does not, check to see whether it is free under the ribbon guide clips or caught under the type bars, or twisted.  If the spool does not turn freely, loosen the thumb screw, turn the spool, and retighten the thumb screw.