Fixing an Atari 1025 Printer

[mhoney]

Looking for some advice on where I might get an Atari 1025 printer repaired?  The printer is in excellent condition cosmetically and it even worked for a few minutes before smoke started pouring out.  I opened it up and some piece of circuitry I couldn't identify right by the rear power switch is the culprit.  I had a friend who dabbles in electronics more than me look at it, and his best guess was the item in questions is an oscillating capacitor, I've never heard of such a thing.  Anyway, I'd really like to get this fixed even if the shipping costs an arm and leg.  Any suggestions?

 

 

[+bob1200xl]

Can you take a picture of the problem? Do you have a meter? (and know how to use it?)

 

Where are you located?

 

The 1025 is an Okidata 80 printer. If you can find a service shop that does Okidata, they can fix your 1025, probably.

 

Bob

 

 

[mhoney]

I took the printer to work for my friend to look at.  I'll take some pictures on Monday.  

 

Side question, could I have caused this by having the power switch on the front on at the same time as the rear switch?  I'm not sure why there are two different switches, just assumed the front was for convenience. 

[+bob1200xl]

The front switch is an online/offline switch, not power.

 

Rear switch is power. 

 

Bob

 

 

[TGB1718]

10 hours ago, mhoney said:

and his best guess was the item in questions is an oscillating capacitor

I'd love to see one of those

 

[BillC]

On 4/3/2021 at 4:53 PM, mhoney said:

Looking for some advice on where I might get an Atari 1025 printer repaired?  The printer is in excellent condition cosmetically and it even worked for a few minutes before smoke started pouring out.  I opened it up and some piece of circuitry I couldn't identify right by the rear power switch is the culprit.  I had a friend who dabbles in electronics more than me look at it, and his best guess was the item in questions is an oscillating capacitor, I've never heard of such a thing.  Anyway, I'd really like to get this fixed even if the shipping costs an arm and leg.  Any suggestions?

 

 

There are service manuals available at Atarimania that should help.

http://www.atarimania.com/documents/Atari-1025-Printer-Field-Service-Manual.pdf

http://www.atarimania.com/documents/Sams_Computerfacts_Atari_Model_1025_Printer_1986_Howard_Sams.pdf

[mhoney]

Attached are some pictures of the part that smoked.

[+bob1200xl]

That looks like a line filter. You should be able to just disconnect it - pull off the spade lugs on each end. Be careful that you do not pull anything else.

 

Printer should work without it. Is the line fuse blown? Need to replace if it is.

 

Bob

[massiverobot]

Yeah, isn't that just a RIFA - it's for power back into the mains. These fail all the time on AppleIIs and Lisa- you can just remove them. It's a RIFA if it stunk like burning fish oil.

[mhoney]

Thanks for the advice.  I cut the filter out and the printer turns on fine.  Seeing as there isn't a self test, I'll plug it into the 800xl tonight and try some printing *fingers crossed*

 

[gilsaluki]

15 hours ago, massiverobot said:

sn't that just a RIFA

 

[gilsaluki]

Just now, gilsaluki said:

 

RIFA madness

 

[mhoney]

Thank you everyone for the suggestion and information, removing the RIFA smoothing capacitor did the trick!  I'm happily printing from the XLEnt Word processor

 

Side question - I didn't get a chance to use the printer before it gave up the magic smoke.  Is it just me, or is it literally impossible to load a single sheet of paper without removing the ribbon?  The paper feed seems to be designed in such a way that the paper doesn't curl around the platen tight enough to make it behind the ribbon guide.  No matter where you place the head or angle the paper, it always knocks the ribbon off.  Am I doing something wrong?

 

Thanks again for helping me get my 1025 back to life.