Typewriter Video Series - Episode 234: Royal QDL Spacing

[@typepals]

Thank you for the shout out! At least a couple of my typers are unforgiving with typing technique, including my 1942 Royal Companion. I have to remind myself to slow down a bit and type at more of a steady pace. I really need to pick up a copy of that repair manual!

[@tmunk]

yup, Royal portables tend to have fairly sensitive "forming" adjustments that require patience and a light touch to get just right - but when you do get it dialed in, they sure are fantastic to type on. Excellent and thoughtful walk-through of the diagnostic process! :D

[@johnpjonesch]

Yes, sir. I would stress that typists to leave that sort of "forming" to a professional.

[@someonespadre]

I got some video of my escapement…the ball on mine is further away after trip which is probably why excess vibration is making it skip sometimes. It also moves more on trip which I’m assuming is a function of the rocker arm needing to be closer to the star wheel.

[@erp65]

I've never met a Royal that didn't have a spacing/escapement issue. Yet Royal aficionados tend to blame the typist's "touch." Odd how the same "defective" touch has no such issues on Smith-Corona/Underwood/Brother, et al. Thx for the Munk-fueled tutorial, Joe.

[@johnpjonesch]

The typist touch is the work-around. If you had piled "of'" on a known Royal it was still considered an error.

[@johnpjonesch]

Actually, that silver arm and the rear escapement trip you formed are two different pieces attached to the same bracket and axle held to the typewriter frame with two screws. The entire bracket comes out for easier controlled forming without risking escaping the space arm travel limit tooth or bending the vertical axis of the bracket itself. Been there, done that.

[@ericwerner3605]

I see that bracket has slots and I thought the same thing. I can't get to those screws very easily to try out the adjustment.

[@douglasjackson9058]

Great information,thanks for taking the time and get those angles in this video.

[@mikequinlan9585]

Great video I have this problem too now I have a way to modify it.

[@Nick215NY]

What a great video...

[@PandorasCrate0]

I have a handful of QDL's, including the mother of them all: A gold QDL! \o/ my favorite!

[@dynamo13131]

A BIG thank you for this tutorial about QDL Spacing! I had an issue with a margin release key and I resolve it by this typewriter video. Thank you very much Sir, you are awesome! Best regards, Adelin.

[@fabriciopaoletti523]

Same problem happens to me on this particular model of Royal Joe, i’m going yo try this. Greetings from Buenos Aires.

[@bwhog]

Jay Leno has at least two full time mechanics working for him because in order to preserve them, the machines need attention from time to time and, more importantly, the engines need to turn over occasionally.

[@connorc9537]

I was absolutely terrified and confused for the first 12 seconds of this video. The rest was pretty good though.

[@dianemaher3538]

Been waiting for this video subject!

[@painchaud2000]

I can feed a hard cardstock post card through my Brother Charger....but typing might be some trouble ....so I guess finding malleable post cards is the key

[@rossman1600]

I am having what appears to be a back-and-forth issue with the loose dog on my Royal QDL. When I press a key (or the space bar), the loose dog goes forward too far, and when the loose dog is trying to come back, it gets out caught on the star wheel, causing the carriage to freeze. Have you seen this before? It seems like I should be able to make an adjustment, so the loose dog doesn't go in quite so far.

[@someonespadre]

I am finding my QDL misbehaves when I’m too heavy handed. The design seems to be optimized to allow a light touch for less overall effort to fill a page. I tried playing it softly like a piano, filled a page with less effort than a Smith Corona and no bad behavior. If a key is hit too hard it will release the escapement twice. Crowding seems to stem from heavy quick typing.

[@mitchvass4498]

Oh that was great. Nice tutorial indeed. I sent your video to Facebook. for reference.

[@someonespadre]

I have 2 Royals that are prone to crowding and skipping, it’s harder to induce crowding on my 1936 Smith Corona, it will if I really try but even then it is slight.. If I use a consistent steady pace it doesn’t do it so much. The 1938 Deluxe is worse than the 1952 QDL.

[@someonespadre]

I measured my trip points in millimeters as best I could. 3/8” is 9.5mm. The 1938 is about 6mm or pretty close to 1/4”, I can barely hear the faint click.. The 1952 QDL is 7mm or 3/8” minus 3/32”, it clicks and jumps slightly so that may need adjustment too.

[@najophotographyetc]

Hello, Is this good for skipping too? Now my Royal HHE is doing this! Lol

[@connorc9537]

I have the opposite problem with my royal with magic margin. While typing it will sometimes just randomly insert a space into the middle of a word.

[@someonespadre]

My QDL skips. One thing I found is the escapement pawl (loose dog?) was way too low so I adjusted it up to where it should be. That stopped almost all the skipping. It mostly does it on h hit too hard or an unstable typing surface such as my lap. It’s not just h, other letters hit too hard will do it too. I suspect it is part of the nature of the escapement design, maybe brand new not so much a problem but after decades of wear it’s more prone to skipping. The Royals are more sensitive to typing style than Smith Corona but nicer to type on in my opinion.

[@kerc]

Does the Safari uses the same escapement system? I'm having exactly the same issue with mine.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

I think it’s very similar. Others have told me these are common problems with this era of Royal.

[@johnlennon1049]

Where can I get that typewriter bible?

[@Joe_VanCleave]

typewriterrepairbible.com