Had a Citizen Swift 240 that I think was similar to the 120. There were various setting in the printer's control panel (nothing to do with the drivers) for doing things like fine tuning the top-of-form and tear off points. Think you had to push the park/load button once printing had finished to first advance the paper to the tear off point, then a second time to pull the paper back out of the printer once you'd torn the paper off, then a third time to push it back forward ready to print again.

I think paper getting jammed up was often a problem with the paper thickness lever, try adjusting it one step thicker or thinner. When you say the paper works its way to one side, is that with the tractor feed paper, or sheets of paper? If it's with the tractor feed paper, are the two sprockets latched? They shouldn't be able to move once the paper is tensioned properly.

Last used it a couple of years ago with Windows 10. Can't remember if I used specific Citizen drivers, or just used the standard Epson esc/p driver. Originally used it with DOS and Win3.0, don't think we ever used it with Win95/98.

snufkin wrote on 2022-01-08, 19:14:

Had a Citizen Swift 240 that I think was similar to the 120. There were various setting in the printer's control panel (nothing to do with the drivers) for doing things like fine tuning the top-of-form and tear off points. Think you had to push the park/load button once printing had finished to first advance the paper to the tear off point, then a second time to pull the paper back out of the printer once you'd torn the paper off, then a third time to push it back forward ready to print again.

I think paper getting jammed up was often a problem with the paper thickness lever, try adjusting it one step thicker or thinner. When you say the paper works its way to one side, is that with the tractor feed paper, or sheets of paper? If it's with the tractor feed paper, are the two sprockets latched? They shouldn't be able to move once the paper is tensioned properly.

Last used it a couple of years ago with Windows 10. Can't remember if I used specific Citizen drivers, or just used the standard Epson esc/p driver. Originally used it with DOS and Win3.0, don't think we ever used it with Win95/98.

I'll be honest I've not adjusted the paper thickness lever so Might try that. Where do I get the control panel for the printer? I only have the Windows Printer settings nothing specific.

The 3 buttons on the printer are "ONLINE" "LF" "FF / Auto Sheet Load", the manual suggests when printing is done the paper will be fed to bring up the tear line then when a print job is received the paper will be drawn back in to the start.

I've attached images:

The left side has stayed in the tractor and lined up

What the paper looks like after a few sheets have been drawn through, I line them up and the pins are in the holes but after a few sheets this always happens. I've tried with the clips on the clamps in the backwards and forwards position. So locked and unlocked, but no difference.

The paper as you can see is moving to the left of the roller, it started off at the edge. I think this may be why after a while it's getting jammed in the tractor as per the next image

ReadySelectStart wrote on 2022-01-08, 19:24:

I'll be honest I've not adjusted the paper thickness lever so Might try that. Where do I get the control panel for the printer? […]
Show full quote

snufkin wrote on 2022-01-08, 19:14:

Had a Citizen Swift 240 that I think was similar to the 120. There were various setting in the printer's control panel (nothing to do with the drivers) for doing things like fine tuning the top-of-form and tear off points. Think you had to push the park/load button once printing had finished to first advance the paper to the tear off point, then a second time to pull the paper back out of the printer once you'd torn the paper off, then a third time to push it back forward ready to print again.

I think paper getting jammed up was often a problem with the paper thickness lever, try adjusting it one step thicker or thinner. When you say the paper works its way to one side, is that with the tractor feed paper, or sheets of paper? If it's with the tractor feed paper, are the two sprockets latched? They shouldn't be able to move once the paper is tensioned properly.

Last used it a couple of years ago with Windows 10. Can't remember if I used specific Citizen drivers, or just used the standard Epson esc/p driver. Originally used it with DOS and Win3.0, don't think we ever used it with Win95/98.

I'll be honest I've not adjusted the paper thickness lever so Might try that. Where do I get the control panel for the printer? I only have the Windows Printer settings nothing specific.

The 3 buttons on the printer are "ONLINE" "LF" "FF / Auto Sheet Load", the manual suggests when printing is done the paper will be fed to bring up the tear line then when a print job is received the paper will be drawn back in to the start.

I've attached images:

The left side has stayed in the tractor and lined up

What the paper looks like after a few sheets have been drawn through, I line them up and the pins are in the holes but after a few sheets this always happens. I've tried with the clips on the clamps in the backwards and forwards position. So locked and unlocked, but no difference.

The paper as you can see is moving to the left of the roller, it started off at the edge. I think this may be why after a while it's getting jammed in the tractor as per the next image

Here's a manual that covers Swift 90, Swift 120D , Swift 90x, Swift 240+ , Swift 240x , Swift 330+ and Swift 330x models .

I hope it helps .

EDIT :

Apparently there may be a Swift 120D and a 120D (no Swift) . How pleasantly confusing .

Anyway you should be able to find everything available for either from here :
https://web.archive.org/web/20060306203011/ht … vers/dotmat.htm

Huh, paper comes of the sprocket, that shouldn't happen. From memory the lever should be pushed back to lock the sprocket in place, and the paper should be not loose, but not too tight, between them. Also make sure the paper box is lined up straight with the printer. Do the pins move round on both sides?

Maybe the Form Feed/Auto sheet load button is the equivalent of the park/load button? I don't remember the 240 auto feeding to the tear off, but It's been a while since I last used it and I will have some details wrong.

darry wrote on 2022-01-08, 19:29:

Here's a manual that covers Swift 90, Swift 120D , Swift 90x, Swift 240+ , Swift 240x , Swift 330+ and Swift 330x models . cit […]
Show full quote

ReadySelectStart wrote on 2022-01-08, 19:24:

I'll be honest I've not adjusted the paper thickness lever so Might try that. Where do I get the control panel for the printer? […]
Show full quote

snufkin wrote on 2022-01-08, 19:14:

Had a Citizen Swift 240 that I think was similar to the 120. There were various setting in the printer's control panel (nothing to do with the drivers) for doing things like fine tuning the top-of-form and tear off points. Think you had to push the park/load button once printing had finished to first advance the paper to the tear off point, then a second time to pull the paper back out of the printer once you'd torn the paper off, then a third time to push it back forward ready to print again.

I think paper getting jammed up was often a problem with the paper thickness lever, try adjusting it one step thicker or thinner. When you say the paper works its way to one side, is that with the tractor feed paper, or sheets of paper? If it's with the tractor feed paper, are the two sprockets latched? They shouldn't be able to move once the paper is tensioned properly.

Last used it a couple of years ago with Windows 10. Can't remember if I used specific Citizen drivers, or just used the standard Epson esc/p driver. Originally used it with DOS and Win3.0, don't think we ever used it with Win95/98.

I'll be honest I've not adjusted the paper thickness lever so Might try that. Where do I get the control panel for the printer? I only have the Windows Printer settings nothing specific.

The 3 buttons on the printer are "ONLINE" "LF" "FF / Auto Sheet Load", the manual suggests when printing is done the paper will be fed to bring up the tear line then when a print job is received the paper will be drawn back in to the start.

I've attached images:

The left side has stayed in the tractor and lined up

What the paper looks like after a few sheets have been drawn through, I line them up and the pins are in the holes but after a few sheets this always happens. I've tried with the clips on the clamps in the backwards and forwards position. So locked and unlocked, but no difference.

The paper as you can see is moving to the left of the roller, it started off at the edge. I think this may be why after a while it's getting jammed in the tractor as per the next image

Here's a manual that covers Swift 90, Swift 120D , Swift 90x, Swift 240+ , Swift 240x , Swift 330+ and Swift 330x models .
citizen_swift_90.pdf

I hope it helps .

Thank you. I've flicked through the manual but doesn't go into much detail about my issues and it mentions buttons not on my printer. In terms of the automatic movement to the tear line it doesn't seem to do it.

Geon106 wrote on 2022-01-08, 19:37:

darry wrote on 2022-01-08, 19:29:

Here's a manual that covers Swift 90, Swift 120D , Swift 90x, Swift 240+ , Swift 240x , Swift 330+ and Swift 330x models . cit […]
Show full quote

ReadySelectStart wrote on 2022-01-08, 19:24:

I'll be honest I've not adjusted the paper thickness lever so Might try that. Where do I get the control panel for the printer? […]
Show full quote

I'll be honest I've not adjusted the paper thickness lever so Might try that. Where do I get the control panel for the printer? I only have the Windows Printer settings nothing specific.

The 3 buttons on the printer are "ONLINE" "LF" "FF / Auto Sheet Load", the manual suggests when printing is done the paper will be fed to bring up the tear line then when a print job is received the paper will be drawn back in to the start.

I've attached images:

The left side has stayed in the tractor and lined up

What the paper looks like after a few sheets have been drawn through, I line them up and the pins are in the holes but after a few sheets this always happens. I've tried with the clips on the clamps in the backwards and forwards position. So locked and unlocked, but no difference.

The paper as you can see is moving to the left of the roller, it started off at the edge. I think this may be why after a while it's getting jammed in the tractor as per the next image

Here's a manual that covers Swift 90, Swift 120D , Swift 90x, Swift 240+ , Swift 240x , Swift 330+ and Swift 330x models .
citizen_swift_90.pdf

I hope it helps .

Thank you. I've flicked through the manual but doesn't go into much detail about my issues and it mentions buttons not on my printer. In terms of the automatic movement to the tear line it doesn't seem to do it.

I just edited my post. Apparently there is a Swift 120D and a non-Swift 120D . See the second link that I shared

snufkin wrote on 2022-01-08, 19:36:

Huh, paper comes of the sprocket, that shouldn't happen. From memory the lever should be pushed back to lock the sprocket in place, and the paper should be not loose, but not too tight, between them. Also make sure the paper box is lined up straight with the printer. Do the pins move round on both sides?

Maybe the Form Feed/Auto sheet load button is the equivalent of the park/load button? I don't remember the 240 auto feeding to the tear off, but It's been a while since I last used it and I will have some details wrong.

The manual said it should be taut, so maybe I'm doing it too tight.

As for the box being lined up, that's a good question. I tried the box behind the printer and it looked lined up. I've now put the box under the desk to feed the paper up behind. Did the same either way but I might try with the box behind the printer again.

The pins do move on both sides when I turn the roller

darry wrote on 2022-01-08, 19:44:

Geon106 wrote on 2022-01-08, 19:37:

darry wrote on 2022-01-08, 19:29:

Here's a manual that covers Swift 90, Swift 120D , Swift 90x, Swift 240+ , Swift 240x , Swift 330+ and Swift 330x models .
citizen_swift_90.pdf

I hope it helps .

Thank you. I've flicked through the manual but doesn't go into much detail about my issues and it mentions buttons not on my printer. In terms of the automatic movement to the tear line it doesn't seem to do it.

I just edited my post. Apparently there is a Swift 120D and a non-Swift 120D . See the second link that I shared

Oh I didn't no they were different. That is confusing. I'll try and download that tomorrow and retry with it.

If there is something not right with this printer due to its age or what not, I might consider buying a brand new modern dot matrix but I like the idea of saving old hardware from the skip especially when it's designed for the computers I'm using it on

Huh, nice naming by Citizen there. I must have been remembering the Swift 120D rather than the completely different 120D.

Just found an entry on wayback (thanks for the prod Darry) about some dip switch settings, including one for the tear off:
https://web.archive.org/web/20061002024123/ht … rt/120d-dip.htm

Switch bank 1, switch 1 should be On.

snufkin wrote on 2022-01-08, 19:54:

Huh, nice naming by Citizen there. I must have been remembering the Swift 120D rather than the completely different 120D. […]
Show full quote

Huh, nice naming by Citizen there. I must have been remembering the Swift 120D rather than the completely different 120D.

Just found an entry on wayback (thanks for the prod Darry) about some dip switch settings, including one for the tear off:
https://web.archive.org/web/20061002024123/ht … rt/120d-dip.htm

Switch bank 1, switch 1 should be On.

Huh. Interesting. I've not seen any dip switches but I'm guessing by the description they're somewhere on the parallel interface board, if not maybe underneath. I'll take a look and see if I can see them now

Attached is how the dip switches are set

Difficult to know which way is on or off. Plus I think I misread the settings since SW1 talks about cut-sheet off or on, where I've just realised that cut-sheet is non-fan fold. So cut-sheet should probably be off when I said it should be on.

Either way, try playing with SW1&2 to change the cut-sheet and auto-line feed settings. Other settings may also help with the stopping printing problem with the Win98 drivers (I'm looking at some of the CR/LF stuff if it's in IBM mode).