AMI Continental I button bank selection adjustment

[gazzy58]

Hi Folks, I am looking for some advice/guidance with a problem which has only recently occurred with the "letters" selection on my AMI Continental I. Everything works fine, but what happens now is that the "letter" buttons are not staying down when making a selection. You physically have to hold them down with one hand and make the "number" selection with the other. Whereas before they would lock in place independently. Other than that everything else works as it should. All numbers buttons are staying down and locking in as they should. I am thinking this should be a fairly simple adjustment and I could probably figure it out myself. However, before starting to delve in too hastily, I thought perhaps someone in the forum may have had a similar problem in the past and hopefully they could at least steer me in the right direction. I have learned through past experience, that rather than tearing into something with great enthusiasm but no real knowledge of what you are doing, can make things worse. I think it best to take a step back and get some friendly advice first.

Keep on Jukin

regards Gary

[Ron Rich]

Hi Gary,
IMHO, you are very wise to axk -first !
It has also been my experience when something changes like this, NO "adjustments" are needed ! What you will need to do is figure out what SHOULD be happening, and WHY it's not happening. Will the numbers latch, if you press one first ? Ron Rich

[gazzy58]

Hi Ron, thanks for getting back to me. Yes the numbers latch down fine. Its just the letters that are proving difficult. I can get them to stay down occasionally if I press a bit harder than normal. Gary

[Ron Rich]

Hi Gary,
My ASSumption, would be, there is a "piece of dirt" stuck somewhere in the letter side of the keyboard ? Ron Rich

[gazzy58]

Hi Ron, thanks for that. I will have a look and let you know my findings. What I cannot get my head around is the fact that when the machine is switched off the buttons depress and latch OK. However, when the machine is switched on and the solenoid is energised the problem occurs. Gary

[Ron Rich]

Gary,
You are correct--that's "odd". I would look INSIDE the latch coil--I have never seen this problem on that coil, but have seen it on other coils-- the backstop has brass insert, that tends to "chip off", and entangle itself in the plunger's path--maybe Ron Rich

[gazzy58]

Hi Ron, thanks for your advice regarding my AMI Continental button bank problem. Just to let you and other members of the forum know, the issue is hopefully now sorted. You were correct in your first assessment. Nothing needed adjusting. The problem seems to have been dirt and grime. Over 50 years of it. The letter section of the button bank was stripped, cleaned and reassembled. All seems to be working fine again. Just a word of caution to anyone who has problems with their button bank and thinking of a strip down. If you can avoid taking off the metal plate that holds the spring loaded plastic levers in place, then do so. Take my word for it, putting it back on was a major pain trying to line up each individual lever with spring attached. If anyone has an easier method of doing this, please let me know. Reassembling the button bank was also a bit fiddly to say the least. Probably best done in private so nobody can hear you swearing. I alway worry that by trying to sort one problem out, another occurs (only one broken wire needed resoldered). Thanks again Ron for your words of wisdom and encouragement. 

regards Gary

[Ron Rich]

Hi Gary,
Thanks for the post--glad it's done ! Ron Rich