Braille Repair 101 PRESENTED BY: THE GEORGIA BRAILLE TRANSCRIBERS The problem with 90% of inoperable braillers is that they need to be cleaned!
Supplies needed: PERKINS BRAILLER STEP BY STEP CLEANING GUIDE Watch oil Clock oil Lubriplate aero grease ½ inch soft bristle paint brush 1 inch soft bristle paint brush 1 tooth brush with stiff bristles 1 (2 inch) paint brush 1 small artist brush #1 Phillips head screw driver #2 Phillips head screw driver with a minimum shank length of 7 ¾ inches Small flat head screw driver 1 (16x10 inch) clear pan Neutral petroleum based mineral spirit cleaning solvent like kerosene Rubbing alcohol for cleaning the braillers rubber roller A lent free wiping cloth to clean and wipe down the brailler An ice tray to hold and keep the screws separate A small clear cup or glass to hold oil.
PERKINS BRAILLER DISASSEMBLING GUIDE Step 1: Turn the brailler upside down and remove the eleven-binding head screws and place them in an ice tray slot. Then, lift off the bottom cover and set it aside. (Use small Phillips head screw driver) Turn the machine back to its normal upright position. To remove the top plate, remove the six assembly screws and place them in the tray in a separate slot from the others. Then, lift the top plate and set it aside. Next, lift out the left paper stop guide assembly and place it in the tray. Also, remove the carriage lever assembly by unscrewing the top screw and any lock washers that are present. Lift and pull the lever towards you and put the screw back in the top to prevent loss. Turn the brailler around with the back facing you and remove the four assembly screws. Place them in a separate slot from the others. Then remove the back plate and set it aside. Now turn the brailler over and use a long Phillips head screwdriver to remove the left or right apron screw and washer. Loosen but don t remove the other screw and washer and gently lift and remove the apron. Turn the brailler to its normal position and remove the frontal plate by removing the two top screws. Place them into the tray separate from the others.
PERKINS BRAILLER CLEANING GUIDE Step 2: Dust off loose dirt with a toothbrush and remove any paper bits or foreign objects from the back of the (cam rods) brailler. Turn the brailler towards you and brush the entire machine from top to bottom. Be careful and try to avoid hitting the small springs because they will pop off and you will have trouble putting them back on. Next, turn the brailler upside down and brush the remaining areas of the brailler. To wash the brailler use a shallow 16 x 10 inch pan with the depth of about 1 inch in which the whole brailler should be able to rest easily. Pour about ½ inch cleaning solvent into the pan and set the brailler in the normal upright position with the back of the brailler facing you. Start cleaning the brailler by dipping the 2 inch brush into the solution and start brushing the brailler from top to bottom. Clean the cam rods by placing your hands on all the keys pressing them together to open the cam so you can spread the solution inside the cam. When washing, you may move the carriage assembly to adequately clean the brailller. Turn the brailler around and thoroughly brush the chain and the key slots with the 2 inch brush. With the smaller ½ inch brush, clean the carriage tube. Then, turn the brailler upside down and clean bottom side by cleaning the pawl and back space pawl. Next brush the sides, bottom, and base with the 2 inch brush. Next turn the brailler on its side with the exposed back towards you and move the carriage to the side so you can clean the pawl with the ½ inch brush. Take the back plate and clean the inner parts with the cleaning solvent and wipe it clean with a lent free cloth. Turn the brailler right side up and set atop the pan edges to let drip dry 5 to 10 mins. Once dry, take a lent free cloth or old cotton t-shirt to wipe dry the any remaining solvent left on the brailler. Wipe the cam rods, keys, chain, carriage tube, and carriage beam. Pay close attention to this area s sharp edge, (carriage beam) use the flat head screwdriver with the cloth on top to clean the edges. Check the pan for any loose screws and place them where they belong before putting the brailler back together.
PERKINS BRAILLER LUBRICATION GUIDE Step 3: Place the carriage in the center and put the carriage lever back on. Place one drop of watch oil on both sides of the carriage tube and slide the carriage back and forth to spread the oil. Next, pour some clock oil in a cup and use the small artist brush to oil each key slot. Then, press all the keys together numerous times to spread the oil. Next grease the same key slots with the Areo grease and again press all the keys together numerous times to spread the grease. Oil the pivots on both sides with clock oil and move it up and down to work the oil in place. Oil the underside of the sharp beam with clock oil. Oil the chain with clock oil and move the carriage to oil the bottom half of the chain. Oil the drum cam with clock oil. Turn the brailler around and oil the cam rods using clock oil with a medium sized paint brush or a clean toothbrush. Also, open the cam rods and spread the oil and move the carriage to oil missed areas. Turn the brailler upside down and oil each trunnion with clock oil. Then, grease each grooved roller with Aero grease and press the back spacing key to work in the oil and grease. Take the back plate and add a line of clock oil on the iron bar and slide margin stop back and forth to spread the oil. Finally, clean the rubber roller with rubbing alcohol with a lent free cloth and clean the roller free of any grease. Scrub the roller while turning the knob. Do not oil or grease the Line Spacing Pawl, Center Escapement Pawl, nor the Back Spacing Pawl.
PERKINS BRAILLER CHECK & REASSEMBLING GUIDE Step 4: Before we put the brailler back together, let s do a few checks to make sure the machine is working properly after cleaning. Put a piece of paper in the machine to check the pawls. First, type some Braille, check the back spacing pawl, and then check the line spacing pawl making sure they operate correctly. Next, then take the paper out. Turn the brailler around so the back is facing you and grab the back plate. Make sure the parts on the back plate move freely back and forth. With the carriage in the center position, put on the back plate making sure you set it atop the visible wire that s protruding from the back. Take two screws and insert one on the top right hand side of the plate and the bottom left side, but don t tighten them to tight. Turn the brailler upside down and move the carriage to the left and then move the right margin as far left as you can and lock it in place. Now, push the spacing bar until it stops at the margin. The margin is set properly when the stationary pawl on the escapement stops in the middle of the teeth having clearance on all sides. If the back plate is not seated correctly then the pawl will not have clearance and will stop and jam the brailler. The proper seating and positioning of the back plate will fix this problem and give clearance to the pawl. Now put in the remaining back plate screws and tighten. To put on the front plate, turn the brailler to its normal position. Remove the carriage lever and line the front plate up over the keys. Drop it in place and add the two front plate screws. Now put on the plastic carriage lever by sliding it on making sure that it s all the way to the back. Now add the screw to the center and push the carriage lever down. Slide the carriage to the right and let the lever up slowly. If the lever is sticking, then the screw is too tight. Now turn the brailler upside down. Connect the apron by connecting the right screw (or left one first) and then tap it into place. Now tighten the screws with the long shank screw driver. Turn the brailler right side up and put a little clock oil in the paper guide slot. Next, grab the paper guide and make sure the washer is at the edge of the paper guide. Make sure the bigger end is facing right. Put on the top plate and add the six screws and tighten.
Turn the brailler upside down and put the bottom board back in place. Add the eleven binding head screws back and tighten them. Your Perkins Brailler is clean and ready for use. Also, remember to place the protective covering back on before storing. If the brailler is still not working properly, contact the Georgia Braille Transcribers.