Posts: 54
Threads: 20
Joined: Sep 2011
Hello Katie,
I have tried different paper and have tried the same paper on my HP-41c printer and printing was excellent so I am pretty sure the paper is not the problem.
I do not own the HP-97 service manual. Can you email me the necessary pages to do this resistor upgrade?
Regards,
Fouad
Posts: 185
Threads: 20
Joined: Apr 2007
That really does look like the result of old paper to me. I would first try new paper.
It could be a build up of some gunk on the print head I suppose. I have repaired a lot of HP-97 printers and they have all responded well to a good cleaning. I have never had to change the resistor. Take it apart, clean everything and rebuild it. The really good news is the paper appears to be advancing evenly, a common problem that is a bit more difficult to fix.
Rebuilding the printer is intimidating at first but really isn't difficult. Get the technical manual from the museum DVD - it is an excellent investment and not expensive.
Side question: Is there any source of modern blue printing thermal paper?