Re: Cleaning ImageWriter II print-head

[tshaynes@undergrad.math.uwaterloo.ca (Timmy)]

In article <18JAN199519481129@vax2.concordia.ca>,
Mitchell Spector <spector@vax2.concordia.ca> wrote:
>	I decided to give my ImageWriter II a bit of a cleaning yesterday,
>so I removed the print-head and soaked the 9-pins in rubbing alcohol. Much
>blue gunk came off, even more on a Q-Tip when I very gently touched over
>and around the pins (I was very careful not to bend them of course). Later
>I got the rest of the old ink removed by printing without a ribbon on blank
>sheets of paper. However, some people have recommended that you re-lubricate
>the pins with WD40 or something simular. I've not lubricated it though, and
>fear the original lubrication oil added during manufacturing may have come
>off in the alcohol soak. My question is, do I really need to lubricate the
>pins? What will happen if I don't, can it damage the print head?
>
>	If this step is important, someone please let me know...

Well, using alcohol in the first place probably wasn't the best move.
Alcohol does more than remove the original lubricant - it also tends to
degrade the contacts inside and corrode the main contact "jewel".
Using WD40 instead of alcohol would be a better move when cleaning (to
loosen up the gunk - a Q-tip would follow) but, as was stated in another
follow-up, a 3 in 1 oil would be better.  I'd put a little 3-in-1 in
just for good measure.  It can't really hurt.

Cheers

Tim
-- 
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