FITTING A HAMMER ARMATURE TO A 9512 OR 9512+ PRINTER.
If your printer gives you poor quality or weak text then there is a good chance that the Hammer Armature is cracked.
Switch off your machine then unplug the printer and take it to a flat surface (table or the like) in an area with plenty of light. Remove the two plastic flaps (or the Sheetfeeder and plastic flap), the printer ribbon and the knob on the side of the printer -- it just pulls off. Turn the printer onto the side from where you removed the knob and let the print head run down to the bottom and you will now be able to see the Hammer Armature.
Using a small screwdriver remove the tiny circlip 
located at one end of the Armature ensuring that when it flicks off that you find it and put it in a safe place. You can try covering the circlip and the local surrounding area with Vaseline or any type of Petroleum jelly as this has been found, in most cases, to stop the circlip flying off. If you look very carefully you will see a thin spring metal arm at the rear of the Hammer Armature, this is where it must go when you refit or replace the Armature. Pull off the Armature and use a strong magnifying glass to look for cracks in the plastic, or do as I do, try and bend it and if it cracks in half then you know you have found the fault. Apply a little grease (Petroleum jelly will do fine) to the hole in the end of the replacement Armature and refit remembering where the spring arm went. When happy with that part of the process refit the circlip and reassemble your printer. All being well your text will be back to normal.
It is a good idea, whilst you have the covers off your printer, to remove all the fluff that has gathered on the either side of the Daisywheel Carriage Assembly, around the circular chrome shaft that it runs on, and also to apply a little light lubricating oil, using the finger, to this and it's other runner, Do not let the oil drip onto the large rubber drive band -- do apply the oil even if there is no fluff!. Push the Daisywheel Carriage Assembly backwards and forwards a few times along the Chrome Shaft, then wipe away any surplus oil from the ends of the shaft. This will stop any future text drift (the text starts off with margins aligned and ends up printing on the roller).
Should you wish to take your overhaul to it's limits then remove all the pieces of paper, paperclips, hairs, fluff and etc from inside the printer casing using a Vacuum cleaner or a duster. You can also remove the Daisywheel and check for build-up of ink on the petals and if found, remove using Methylated spirits or something similar. Refitting the daisywheel does cause some people problems and if so refer to my help page on this subject - Visit.
This Hammer Armature is now obsolete but John Livermore of EDCOM Tel: 0208 697 4688 has informed (March 2007) that he has a stock of them.
© J.R.P.King.
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