Re: malfunctioning key

["Paul Grammens" <grammens@svn.net>]

Simon Biber <simon@basilisk2.cjb.net> wrote in message
news:6CGy5.2312$Z06.19138@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> On my IIe Platinum the L key is not working properly. It works about a
third
> of the time when you press it. Nothing is apparently wrong just taking off
> the keycap, but I'm not sure  how I would go about fixing this (or even
> getting at the keyboard).
>
> Any suggestions?
>

It can be fixed, but if you're not sure how to get at the keyboard, it's
probably not going to be something you'll want to do yourself. There are
many kinds of key switches and I don't know what kind you have, so I can't
give exact instructions, but...
Some things that I've done (I'm an electronic tech) to fix keyboards are:
* desoldering the bad key and swapping in a good key from a junk keyboard
* using a contact cleaner, if the key switch uses metallic contacts
* taking it apart and cleaning if it's the rubber sheet type
* for the conductive elastomer type, zapping with 15VDC restores
conductivity.

So, first step is to determine what kind of key switches your keyboard uses.
The contact cleaner solution is the easiest, if it will work with your
keyboard. The tough part is getting it into the switch, they are usually
designed to seal out contaminants. Of course coffee and Coke can get in, but
not switch cleaner!
-Paul