Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!caesar.cs.montana.edu!blake!milton!max!scott
From: scott@max.u.washington.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: Re: How to fix keyboard?
Message-ID: <10936@max.u.washington.edu>
Date: 24 Nov 89 02:17:21 GMT
References: <6058@cbnewsh.ATT.COM>
Distribution: usa,world
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle WA
Lines: 33

In article <6058@cbnewsh.ATT.COM>, nms@cbnewsh.ATT.COM (n.m.scribner) writes:
> I have a c64, vintage about 1986, whose space bar does not function
> every time it is struck; frequently, it takes serveral taps to get a space.
> The key does not seem to stick, or show any other obvious mechanical problem.
> Has anyone had experience fixing similar problems?
>
> Thanks,
> Neal Scribner (ATT-BL, Holmdel NJ)
 
The problem is caused by the accumulation of dust over the years between
the contacts of the keys. Fixing the problem is simple but you need to
open the computer and requires some very simple desoldering.
To start with, remove the three screws located at the front-bottom of
the computer. (At this point, go to the bathroom or kitchen and touch
your hand to the faucet to discharge yourself of any static electricity).
After removing the screws, you will be able to open the computer up.
Now remove the keyboard cable from its socket and the "power-on" LED cable
from its socket (when removing this cable remember how it was plugged in).
Unplugging these two cables you will be able to remove the top part of
the computer from the mother-board.
When you look at the underside of the keyboard you will be able to
see two bare-wires soldered. You need to desolder these two wires from
their respective places. Having done that, now comes the fun part; you need
to remove all those little screws dotting the underside of the keyboard.
With the screws removed, you will be able to remove the underpad of the
keyboard. You need to clean this pad with a little soup and a dishwashing
cloth. You will also want to clean the underside of each key with a
glass-cleaner and cloth. Having cleaned all that, now comes the part of
putting everything back together. And hopefully after all that your keyboard.
will be more responsive.
 
Sincerely,
Scott K. Stephen