Problem with ImageWriter II (Power Supply dead?)

[pfuentes69]

Hello,
yesterday I was using the printer and suddenly it made a weird noise and all died. It's a first generation ImageWriter II (the one without the "ImageWriter II" serigraphy and that weights a ton).

No LEDs are lighting at all and when I push the power button I can hear a faint "thump", like if a motor made an attempt to move and a slight electrical humming.

It seems an electrical issue... Is this a common problem? Any advice?

Thanks!

 

[pfuentes69]

In a related thread, @trag pointed me to a post in 68kmla made by @techknight time ago.
I put it here for reference:

Apple Imagewriter II Restoration

Welp, Another project on the table. Just picked up an Imagewriter II from Scott, And as expected, there are definitely a few things with these beasts that need attention. 1. You guessed it. Capacitors, Capacitors, Capacitors! A few of these just started to leak, while others appeared ok. But I...

68kmla.org

Thanks to both!

 

[pfuentes69]

Hello.
Just came to say that I recapped the power supply and I had absolutely no change.

Suggestions are welcome!

 

[Mac84]

You may have checked already, but has the fuse blown? In the thread you linked to someone mentioned some models have a fuse in one of the legs.

 

[pfuentes69]

You may have checked already, but has the fuse blown? In the thread you linked to someone mentioned some models have a fuse in one of the legs.

Hi,
I checked the fuse I saw. I think it was not in the leg but in the power supply board, but there are different version of the IW2, so I'm not sure.
In any case... some kind of power arrives, because when I press the power button there's a brief "thump" and physical movement in the printer and the power led briefly lights, for a very short fraction of a second. I think a blown fuse will prevent this.

I would have to find time to disassemble it again (pretty tedious) and see what could be wrong... But I'm quite lost on what to check.

 

[jajan547]

Hey there I see you have issues with your ImageWriter II I recently uploaded a Binder full of great information, disassembly guides, tests, and troubleshooting for the ImageWriter and ImageWriter II. This can be found in the Apple Service Technical Procedures Volume Three Binder which Ive added to the resources section, link here.

 

[retr01]

Hey @pfuentes69, did you get your IW II printer fixed?

 

[pfuentes69]

Hey there I see you have issues with your ImageWriter II I recently uploaded a Binder full of great information, disassembly guides, tests, and troubleshooting for the ImageWriter and ImageWriter II. This can be found in the Apple Service Technical Procedures Volume Three Binder which Ive added to the resources section, link here.

Thanks! I'll give a try.

Hey @pfuentes69, did you get your IW II printer fixed?

Not yet. I did a recap of the power supply but nothing changed. I get the same behaviour. When I turn it on I get a "thump" and some slight movement in the mechanism, but nothing else.

 

[retr01]

This is good to learn about IW II issues and how to fix them from the user's perspective because I have not seen much about IW II printers.

 

[pfuentes69]

This is good to learn about IW II issues and how to fix them from the user's perspective because I have not seen much about IW II printers.

So far I can just give insights about not fixing issues…

 

[skate323k137]

Thanks! I'll give a try.

Not yet. I did a recap of the power supply but nothing changed. I get the same behaviour. When I turn it on I get a "thump" and some slight movement in the mechanism, but nothing else.

A couple thoughts, unlikely, but that I have to post or I'll feel bad if it ends up being the switch;

Does it do the same thump when returning the switch to the off position?

And second, as a test, slowly press the power button down until a light comes on or you hear the thump, and then try to remain still. If the printer remains on but then shuts off after finishing the press/locking the switch into place, it's a bad switch.

 

[pfuentes69]

A couple thoughts, unlikely, but that I have to post or I'll feel bad if it ends up being the switch;

Does it do the same thump when returning the switch to the off position?

And second, as a test, slowly press the power button down until a light comes on or you hear the thump, and then try to remain still. If the printer remains on but then shuts off after finishing the press/locking the switch into place, it's a bad switch.

This is definitely a good suggestion, but I’m afraid it’s not my case.
The printer was working and it just died while printing. It made an ugly noise and it stopped… and never worked again.
It was really sad because it happened just after I managed to get a color ribbon and to learn how to print in color… I was happily watching it printing and it happened… a tragedy… 🥹