Hoping someone can help me out here.
I've had some ongoing problems with my Imagewriter II. It takes 15 minutes to 'boot' from power on, I'm suspecting there's a capacitor somewhere that needs to be replaced, as turning it off and on after it's finally going takes just a second.
But more of an issue is the print quality. Even with a new ribbon, the print head isn't quite impacting the paper properly, maybe it's at an angle? The result is you get white lines where the print head is missing, which looks especially bad with graphics, but also isn't the best look for printing text either. This is worse on one side of the printer than the other.
I've adjusted the printer's paper thickness setting to its smallest value. I've tried pushing the print head rail closer to the paper, which kind of works, but is there a better way to permanently adjust this? Maybe someone knows what I'm talking about, or I can try and get some pictures of the parts that I'm talking about.
A picture comparison is below. On the left is the Imagewriter II printout of Shakespeare (with an older ink cartridge) and on the right is my original Imagewriter, with a new ink cartridge. Note again that even if I swap cartridges, the Imagewriter II will still print with lines (just with darker blacks).
Probably a bad print head.
I think you should replace it before that printer explodes.
Also, check those rubber mounts on the (bottom and inside) of the printer.
Those rubber things affect the position of the printer inside the chassis.
Check the pins on each connector for oxidation.
You also can try cleaning the print head and the gold pins on it.
I understand that that effect is known as "banding".
It is usually due to a defect in the print head (a fractured pin)
or a failure in the electronics that drives that particular pin.
If swapping the head fixes it then it will be a broken pin.
A mate of mine here in the Blue Mountains used to repair similar
faults in dot matrix printers by actually dismantling the head
and inserting a new pin!!
That was a generation ago, but I guess we are all fooling around
with stuff from at least that time or earlier. OOPs, Got to go
and check that PDP 11/73 stored in the garage.
Laurie
Is there an echo in here?
Thanks all, not sure how keen I am to try and restore this, seeing that I have another one handy. But good information should I decide to start one day.
The Imagewriter II seems like a fantastic printer otherwise, would definitely recommend it.
In such case you should download this:
http://mirrors.apple2.org.za/Apple%20II%20Documentation%20Project/Books/Sams%20ComputerFacts%20-%20Imagewriter%20II.pdf
speedyG
It's not that hard to replace the print head in an Imagewriter II. And they can be found:
http://www.applerescueofdenver.com/products-page/imagewriter-ii-repair-parts/imagewriter-ii-print-head/
Had a thought as I was drifting off to sleep last night - can I use the print head out of the Imagewriter (original) in an Imagewriter II?
--wrong thread deleted ..