I have a few of this model in the backlog of machines to get ready for sale. This is a customer’s that needed a good dusting (copious amounts of compressed air for the dust bunnies), cleaning, oiling and adjusting. Also, so typical of the Royals, it was not reversing the ribbon feed.
The segment was kinda gummy and the type bar faces needed cleaning with a few slow keys, then it was on to the ribbon. The left side is notorious for getting jammed and this was a typical event.
Once I freed up the mechanism, I used the customer’s ribbon and spool since the ribbon was nice and fresh. Well, well, well… there is a lesson for you here. Two things (if you change your own ribbon on a Royal); first please use the original metal spool if you have it; second, trim that damn islet off the universal spool when you restring it onto the original metal spool. You do not need the islet on a Royal, as all it does is jam itself into the ribbon vibrator long before the spool lever drops to activate the reverse mechanism. This is exactly what was happening with this nice typewriter.
These cheap plastic replacement spools are for the dogs. The right side is almost always fine, but the left side has two actions to overcome and the plastic spool rides up just a little bit preventing the spool arm from completely activating the reverse mechanism.
The metal spools have enough weight and the lever is designed just a little longer so they work very well.
The short of it; the only thing that was really wrong was a cheap set of plastic spools. This was a very nice typewriter to tune up, and it types nicely. VERY NICELY.