reply to u/Ag_2402 at https://reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1nwl0jb/brother_charger_11/

Remove the ribbon and compare what's happening bilaterally. Use the mirror symmetry of the two sides and the ribbon reverse functionality to puzzle out what's wrong. Is something stuck? Broken? Bent? Missing? Comparing the broken side to the working side should help to solve the puzzle.

Look closely at the mechanics of what's going on. Are the gears turning at all? Is there a pawl that holds the forward motion properly? Does something need to be bent back into place? Is there a missing spring perhaps?

Beyond this doing searches for ribbon advancement on YouTube (especially Phoenix Typewriter's channel) may unearth some illustrative help.

Some of the advice here may be helpful: https://typewriterdatabase.com/RD-Typewriter-Tips.index.manual

reply to u/peachaphrodite at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1nwu77s/sears_scholar_specific_letters_are_faint/

Issue with light imprints on a, w, q, etc.

Are you a touch typist or a two finger hunt-and-peck typist?

Solely based on the letters, I'll guess there's nothing wrong with the machine and that you're a newer touch typist whose two weakest fingers on your non-dominant hand just need some exercise to get a better imprint. I'd guess the same happens to your z and x as well, but you use them less. Practice typing about your "qwaze axes and saws" a few times a day for a week to improve your finger strength and technique.

If you're a hunt-and-peck person, then your typebars may need some gentle forming/fine adjustment using some specialist tools to give better imprints. Those letters on the ends of the segment more often go out of alignment than others. If this is the case, try: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html

Typewriter Video Series - Episode 234: Royal QDL Spacing by [[Joe Van Cleave]]

Did it work prior to replacing the ribbon? If yes, then perhaps remove the ribbon and replace again. See page 19 of the manual here: https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/RoyalKMM.pdf

YouTube also has tutorials for how to thread these. (Also search for the No. 10, KH, KHM, HH, Empress, FP, etc. which also used the same general ribbon spools and set up if you can't find a KHM.) I can*t tell 100% from the photo, but the ribbon looks like it's spooling on clockwise on the right (and vice-versa for the left) and you want it the other way.

Is it not advancing regardless of which direction you have the ribbon going? Usually just one side is not working. You can use this fact to compare the typewriter bilaterally. Watch what's going on with the side that does work and compare it with the side the doesn't. What's wrong on the non-working side?

Often times the spindle on one or both sides is frozen up with dried up grease, oil, dirt, or dust. A small quirt of mineral spirits or lacquer thinner (or other degreaser) will free it up. (Here we use the mantra, a typewriter isn't really "broken" unless it's clean and broken.) See: https://boffosocko.com/2024/08/09/on-colloquial-advice-for-degreasing-cleaning-and-oiling-manual-typewriters/

reply to u/UltimateAiden98 at https://old.reddit.com/r/typewriters/comments/1f0nzt8/my_royal_kmm_ribbon_is_t_advancing_what_should_i/