I have a brothers sx-4000 typewriter, i recently bought new ink ribbon. But for some reason my typewriter still does not print the letters at all. I know my typewriter is still good, I dont know why it wont type, please help.

Hi - there a many reasons why this happens. Try these first. Replace the ribbon. This might have become tight (faulty) and make this happen. Next clean the main rod that the carriage goes back and forth on, it sometimes get very sticky. Then place a couple of drips of oil on. This should work wonders? Best John ex OEM trained mechanic

Go to brother.com, click on support. Poke around in there you will find a manual for your T/W.

Dickyo

the print ribbon is not moving up when the letter /number is struck

Remove and inspect the ribbon cartrige, wind the knob and make sure that the ribbon moves and reinstall. Check that the correction tape is installed properly. Check that the ribbon plate assembly is not in the correction position. Try CODE RESET (Q key)

YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE RIBBON DRIVE. IF U LOOK LETTERS ARE OVERTYPING ON THE RIBBON. COULD BE JUST A FAULTY RIBBON

check the ribbon is passing in front of the print head as sometimes the ribbon slips to high or behind also check the correction tape hasnt move in front to block the head hitting the print ribbon

A printer ribbon is an inked strip of tissue or other material necessary for any typewritter to print.
In the case of your machine, this ribbon comes inside a cartidge or cassette that looks like those in the image in this link:
http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:xpfM5sM-mZwJ:www.databazaar.com/Inkjet_Cartridge/Catalog/SX4000_5167.html+brother+sx-4000+ink+ribbon&cd=1&hl=pt-PT&ct=clnk&gl=pt

To learn more about your machine, you can download de User Manual from here:
http://www.manualnguide.com/manual-get/11878/

Bad ribbon or ribbon drive gear or ribbon motor.Lawrence

Take a look at the ribbon, making sure it is moving eack key stroke you should be able to read you typing thru the ribbon.

This may have several causes, is the ribbon advancing? is the hammer reacting? is the hammer mechanism forward in the proper position? is the hammer binding? Tese typewriters have a slider on the hammer drive mechanism that may come loose , be broken or not sliding into the proper position.