how to repair traveller c spacebar problem?

[Imperial_Grensal]

Got an Olympia Traveller C that's acting up. The spacebar triggers on its own sometimes when I'm typing. Pretty sure it's not me brushing it by accident.... feels more like an escapement issue.

I've heard that cleaning or adjusting the escapement can solve this, but I've never done it before. For those who've dealt with this on Olympias: where should I start? Is it a matter of brushing out old dirt and oil, or is there a specific adjustment point I need to watch for? Would appreciate some practical steps before I start taking things apart blindly.

 

[papyrus88]

I had the same problem with my dad's old Traveller C last summer. The spacebar kept jumping, and it was just dirt around the escapement. I used a soft brush and a little alcohol on a cotton swab to clean it. Didn't need to adjust anything, just cleaning fixed it. Joe Van Cleave's video helped me see what to check. Might be good to try that first.

 

[JimueL21]

Try adjusting it if cleaning doesn't solve. Check the repair guide to find the adjustment screw, usually by the trigger. Adjust it bit by bit, like a quarter turn each time, testing as you go. If you're not sure, take a photo before each adjustment so you can undo it if things go wrong.

 

[daGameHHH]

Got an Olympia Traveller C that's acting up. The spacebar triggers on its own sometimes when I'm typing. Pretty sure it's not me brushing it by accident.... feels more like an escapement issue.

I've heard that cleaning or adjusting the escapement can solve this, but I've never done it before. For those who've dealt with this on Olympias: where should I start? Is it a matter of brushing out old dirt and oil, or is there a specific adjustment point I need to watch for? Would appreciate some practical steps before I start taking things apart blindly.

Take off the cover and give the mechanism a try if you're up for it. A lot of owners say the spacebar feels different without the case, like the housing gets in the way.

 

[yuntik]

Start by carefully cleaning around the escapement wheel and the spacebar linkage, maybe adjust your tension

 

[inkmast3r]

This thread is so helpful! Working on my sister's Traveller C as my surprise gift to her and experienced the same issue. Will try the suggestions here!

 

[TYPEtyp3typE]

I had the same problem with my dad's old Traveller C last summer. The spacebar kept jumping, and it was just dirt around the escapement. I used a soft brush and a little alcohol on a cotton swab to clean it. Didn't need to adjust anything, just cleaning fixed it. Joe Van Cleave's video helped me see what to check. Might be good to try that first.

A common cause for spontaneous skipping on Olympias is a tiny bit of gunk or a slight misalignment of the actual spacebar linkage rod and its associated trip pawl.
clean the main escapement wheel, be sure to follow the rod that runs from the spacebar mechanism all the way back to the escapement unit. That lever needs to move completely freely. Even a tiny bit of sticky varnish there can make the carriage jump if you hit an adjacent key, or the machine vibrates