Fixing the Power Spacer and Tab Set/Clear keys on a Smith-Corona Galaxie 12

Weapon of Choice: 1976 Smith Corona Galaxie Twelve #6MLC 556348 H Allrighty, let’s see where we left off. Let’s get that cover off. These latter Galaxie 12’s are usually spotless inside, Nobody’s doused it in WD-40 or *anything*. The soundproofing panels are by now made of some non-shedding stuff, and probably were case queens after a semester of college or a few letters to Grandma and a Resume. By this time, plastic gears in the ribbon drive system are the norm, as are plastic ribbon spool posts. I’m kind of pondering swapping those with the all-steel parts from a 1959 President 12. That’d be a hoot, and give this unremarkable, brown Galaxie some long-term future-proofing. Speaking of brittle plastic parts, here’s the culprit we diagnosed as the issue with the Repeat Spacer – a busted plastic screw-in tube buffer. The replacement part, sourced from TB Writers Plus. Unscrew the nub of the busted part out with a knife blade. Save that little black nut and transfer it to the new part. Screw that part in, wiggling the wiggle bar (you’ll know what I mean) to get the post on it to seat in the hole in the plastic part. Screw it in far enough to properly engage the wiggle bar to the ratchet wheel and lock it down carefully with the locknut. Finger-tight is fine. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! I see a lot of these “Over the keyboard” Tab Set/Clear keys being uneven like this. Pretty sure they were meant to be even with the Tab key. Let’s fix that. A skinny T-Bender will be sufficient to form the key’s metal lever forward and raise the key.These are probably just bent by people over enthusiastically jamming down the buttons. Don’t need much pressure to activate them – be gentle! (:There we go, Much Better! :D Hmnn, let’s try to clean up these card guides. LPS1 is my lubricating plastic non-fogging white-out solvent of choice. You’re soaking in it now!
Eh, not perfect, but better. May try harder later. He done for now. Handsome fellah, maybe I keep him. If I put a chop sticker on it, that’ll be a commitment. (: