Re: Apple II/II+ Keyboards

["Tom Zuchowski" <eamoncd@bellsouth.net>]

If your keyboard seems to be beyond recovery, you might want to try running 
it through the dishwasher without soap. I have seen keyboards recovered this 
way in the past. Just be sure it is good and dry before trying it out.

I have personally kept many medical equipment keyboard running by replacing 
the keys from a donor board, as Mike suggests. One donor keyboard is good 
for a LOT of repairs.

Tom Z

"Mike Willegal" <mike@willegal-nospamplease.net> wrote in message 
mike-35D8B1.19000413102005@comcast.dca.giganews.com">news:mike-35D8B1.19000413102005@comcast.dca.giganews.com...
>I realize that this posting is pretty old, but I don't monitor this
> group that often.
>
> Anyway, my experience in reviving malfunctioning Apple II/II+
> keyswitches has not been good.  It may be that my particular keyboard
> has been exposed more to dirt and grim than some others.  In any case,
> I've tried a number of different amounts and types of contact cleaners,
> compressed air, and so on with very limited and temporary success.
>
> The best solution, in my mind, is to find a malfunctioning II+ with a
> good clean keyboard for a fair price and either replace the entire
> keyboard or swap in the necessary keys.  I've found that swaping in a
> replacement key or keyboard is a faster and more long lasting repair
> than fussing with trying to revive a malfunctioning key.  Your mileage
> may vary.
>
> See my restoration page to learn how I do it.
>
> http://www.willegal.net/appleii/apple-first_page.htm
>
> Regards,
> Mike Willegal
>
>
>
> In article <icidnWAvad42rKXeRVn-ug@comcast.com>,
> "Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> Chris Alaimo wrote:
>> > Great Hierophant wrote:
>> >
>> >> If you get a used Apple II or II+, you could possible encounter a
>> >> keyboard that doesn't work very well.  Sticky keys, keys without
>> >> keycaps, broken keys.  The old model Apple IIs and II+s are a bit
>> >> pricey these days.  Are there any solutions out there for people who
>> >> would really like to enjoy their II or II+?
>> >>
>> >
>> > This is a great question.  My Apple ][+ is in great condition, 
>> > including
>> > the keyboard (cosmetically), but the keyboard doesnt work very well.  I
>> > often have to hit a key several times before it will register.
>> >
>> > Would disassembling the keyboard and cleaning all of the contacts with
>> > contact/tuner cleaner fix the problem?  That would be pretty labor
>> > intensive, but if the result was a properly working keyboard then I
>> > think it would be well worth it.
>>
>> Yes, that would help a lot.
>>
>> The problem with unreliable keyboards is usually foreign matter on
>> the contacts.  Sometimes it's just oxidation from disuse, and lots
>> of "use" will restore it to reliable operation.  Sometimes it's a
>> liquid spill that delivered the dirt.  And sometimes it's just an
>> accumulation of dust that has worked its way into the switch.
>>
>> In all of these cases, a sparing application of good contact cleaner
>> where the post enters the switch, followed by vigorous operation of
>> the switch for several seconds, will clean the contacts and restore
>> reliable operation.
>>
>> Not too much cleaner should be used, and all that can be removed
>> after cleaning should be removed, because it actually can cause more
>> dirt to "stick" in the future.
>>
>> For very dirty keyswitches, replacement or more radical cleaning
>> (e.g. rinsing with cleaner) may be required, but they are the
>> exceptions.
>>
>> -michael
>>
>> Music synthesis for 8-bit Apple II's!
>> Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/
>>
>> "The wastebasket is our most important design
>> tool--and it is seriously underused."