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Restoration Guide: Daisy Wheel Printer Belt Replacement for Apple Lisa
During a recent restoration project, I finished a nasty repair procedure for the Apple-branded Daisy Wheel printer, one of the few compatible printers for the Apple Lisa system. This post addresses a common failure point: the deteriorating drive belt, which typically disintegrates into bare wires with powder falling to the bottom of the printer given enough time.
New belt on the left, original belt was just wires- all rubber had fallen off.
Replacement Part Sourcing
– it’s in New Jersey
I successfully identified a compatible replacement belt- a timing belt – through McMaster-Carr (with help) located in New Jersey. The specific belt specifications and part number are linked below for future reference. Despite its small size, this is indeed a precision timing belt, crucial for proper printer operation.
Replacement Belt: MXL Cut to Order
Disassembly Procedure
– get a tiny wrench
The belt replacement process, while intricate, is achievable with proper tools and patience. One notable requirement is an extremely small open-end wrench for accessing a particularly challenging fastener during the final disassembly stage.
The printer in a state of dissassembly to get to the clamps holding the belt on the head.
That small open-ended wrench is required to remove the nuts holding the belt to the head. There is no room to reach the nut from the top!
Current Status
– off to a better home.
While I did not complete the full restoration due to an additional power supply issue, the printer has since been transferred to an enthusiast more enthused to complete the repairs. Given its historical significance in the Apple Lisa ecosystem, a working example of this printer would provide cool insights into early Apple computer systems’ printing capabilities- and I hope to see it printing someday.
This documentation should help other computing enthusiasts in restoring these Qume-based printers to working condition.
