Re: Apple II/II+ Keyboards

[Mike Willegal <mike@willegal-nospamplease.net>]

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."