Maintenance toolkit

A toolkit of a few key items will allow most standards repairs on all models of risograph.

The majority of these can be found in any hardware store, but a few will likely need to be special ordered.

Tools

Item	Notes
JIS Phillips #2 screwdriver	The screws in a risograph conform to the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS), not ANSI (used in the US), or ISO (used in Europe). Using a proper JIS screwdriver will provide more torque to stuck screws, and make it less likely that screws become stripped. A good option for this product is the: Vessel 220 P2 150
Metric hex keys	These should be separate L-shaped wrenches, not part of a pocket knife-style connected set. The sizes needed are: 5, 4, 3, 2.5, 2, and 1.5 mm. Hex keys are used for removing and tightening machine screws and set/grub screws, but also to measure small standard gaps when calibrating the second paper feed cams and the feed tray elevator.
Small flat head screwdriver	Primarily for removing e-rings—a thin, strong blade is important. A small butter knife or type tweezers for letterpress make good substitutes.
Needle nose pliers	For reattaching e-rings, and manipulating light springs. For stronger springs, a spring puller or zip-tie handle should be used instead, or hook nosed pliers if they are avilable (so that the spring does not slip off the end of the pliers).
5.5 mm nut driver and/or crescent wrench	Many internal screws in the risograph have an external hex head profile of 5.5 mm. A small adjustable wrench will also do, as will a socket wrench with a 5.5 mm head.
Small vice grips	For removing stuck screws. Also called "locking pliers."
Ruler (mm) and/or calipers	Mechanical calibrations for the risograph are invariably provided in metric.
Small flashlight	A magnetic flashlight is best; a headlamp or bike light will also do.
Fine point sharpie	For marking adjustable plates/screws before and after adjustment, or making notes inside the risograph.
Magnet or magnetic retrieval tool	For retrieving dropped screws and other parts. A magnet can also be clipped near screws and e-rings before removal, to catch them if they fall (but should not be used near circuit boards).
Bristle brushes (nylon & brass)	For cleaning old grit and grease off of hard plastic and metal surfaces respectively. Usually these are useful for cleaning the gears in the riso—but the can also be used to brush rust and oxidation off of internal drum surfaces (use proper ventilation & masking so as not to inhale these oxides).
Optional tools
Metric feeler gauge	A feeler gauge measures tiny spaces between surfaces—in the risograph it is used to adjust the squeegee gap and squeegee pressure in drums on all models, and the G-lever mounting position in Z+Any machine released with or after the RZ line, i.e. RZ/RV/EZ/EV/SF/SE and MZ/ME/MF/MH machines. machines. For drum maintenance this should have leaves of 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.10 mm. For the G-lever adjustment additional leaves of 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, and 0.30 will be useful. Note that an imperial gauge with mm conversions marked on it will not have high enough fidelity to make these calibrations. Recommended product: McMaster Carr Feeler Gauge Set 2334A66
3 mm roll pin punch	Useful for extracting and replacing broken elevator gears on Z+Any machine released with or after the RZ line, i.e. RZ/RV/EZ/EV/SF/SE and MZ/ME/MF/MH machines. machines. A proper roll pin punch should have a small protrusion at the tip, not just a flat end.
Retaining ring removal tool	These are used to remove a special type of retaining ring, the "c-ring." These are rare inside the risograph (used at the back of Z+Any machine released with or after the RZ line, i.e. RZ/RV/EZ/EV/SF/SE and MZ/ME/MF/MH machines. drums and on some of the main motor gears & pulleys), but this is the only tool that will remove them.