Replacing the Bail Bar Springs in the PCW Dot Matrix Printers.

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REPLACING THE BAIL BAR SPRINGS.
Let me start by saying that replacing or refitting the Bail Bar spring(s) is very tricky and I have not found an easy way to do it, so you are left to your own resources here. You will probably end up, like me, chasing the spring around the room on the first few attempts but do persevere as it will get your printer back into working order, for a small sum of money, and you could be lucky with the spring popping into place first go!

SYMPTOMS.

Does the bail bar push the paper onto the roller firmly and at both ends? When you pull it forward and let go does it return to the roller evenly and quickly? if not then you could have one or both of the springs missing, or one or both of the springs could have lost their 'springiness'. Before attempting any repairs or buying any parts do check to see if the plastic lugs, the springs fix to, are still there because if they have broken off you will need to look for a new printer.

DISMANTLING THE 8000 SERIES PRINTER.

Switch off your machine and unplug the printer, now take it to a flat surface in a well lit room (preferably a sound proof room so your family and neighbours do not over hear any bad language!). Remove the two Perspex flaps (or the sheetfeeder and Perspex flap), the ribbon, pull off the outer knob (on the side of the printer), then using a screwdriver prise off the inner knob. Now turn the printer upside down and unscrew the six screws that hold the top half to the bottom, gently turn the printer over so the screws fall out onto the work surface. Lift the top half of the casing off and then look for four brass coloured screws with washes (the washer is in fact part of the screw) in roughly the four corners, as these need to be removed to enable the central printing unit to be lifted out. Once lifted out unseat the power cable (if it has not already done so on it's own) and slide the printed circuit board out of it's runners.
You are now ready to replace or refit the spring(s)!

SPRING FITTING.

To fit the Bail Bar spring(s), just run your eye along the bail bar and then down it's side and at the bottom you will see the old spring, or the spring's lugs if your spring has gone 'walkabouts'. It is probably easier to attempt fitting from the underneath but as stated above you are on your own with this job. Various tricks have been tried by different people to try and avoid losing the spring, should it pop out --- thin string, cotton or an elastic band through the centre of the spring and fixed to the printer, to be cut off should the attempt at fitting be successful. I do not like any of them as I find they all get in the way.

TYPE A PRINTER.

Your printer should have a label on the bottom stating 'A' but if not look at the print head and if it is metal (as pictured above) and sometimes having a silver label bearing the words 'CAUTION HOT' (this label normally falls off) then you have a type 'A' printer.

TYPE B PRINTER.

This model of printer was issued to go with the German/US/Candain PCW8256 machine and is similar to the the type 'A' printer. There should be a circular yellow label on the bottom bearing the letter 'B' but the obvious difference is the data lead having a 50 pin centronics type plug. The Bail Bar Springs are as for the type 'A' printer.
The German/US/Canadian PCW8512 printer, judging from one just serviced, is similar to the type 'C' printer and would require the bail bar spring for this model.
UPDATE. As more of the German PCW printers (described as Matrix Drucker on the flap over the Ribbon cartridge) pass through my hands there seems to be little consistancy as to type supplied, the last one in for service had a white circular label on the base stating -- MFR'S VERSION A -- but was the same as a type 'C' UK printer. It is probably best to ignore what is stated on the printer and to view the two illustrations offered to decide which type of printer you have.

TYPE C PRINTER.

Your printer should have a label on the bottom stating 'C' but if not look at the print head and if black plastic with the word HOT moulded in (as pictured above) then it is a type 'C' printer.

DISMANTLING THE PcW9256 or PcW10 PRINTER.

Just follow the instructions for the 8000 series printer and you will not go far wrong. You do not need to remove the knobs from the side but you will have to undo an earth screw next to the printed circuit board and also remove the screw from the data cable securing clamp.
PcW printer

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