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From: man@cs.brown.edu (Mark H. Nodine)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc,comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Mac 128/512 keyboard wanted
Keywords: mac keyboard old phone-style
Message-ID: <60985@brunix.UUCP>
Date: 8 Jan 91 21:18:13 GMT
References: <22476@well.sf.ca.us>
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Reply-To: man@cs.brown.edu (Mark H. Nodine)
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Organization: Brown Computer Science Dept.
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In article <22476@well.sf.ca.us>, idddev@well.sf.ca.us (Innovative Data Design) writes:
|> 
|> I am looking for an original Macintosh 128/512 keyboard (no
|> numeric keypad, phone-style connector).  A Mac Plus keyboard might
|> also work (I think those have the same kind of connectors).  The
|> keyboard on my 512 at home has been acting up for some time and is
|> getting worse.  Replies and suggestions to: 

You don't say how your keyboard is acting up, but it is a little-known
fact that with nothing more than a soldering iron, some solder, and a
few screwdrivers it is possible to fix a key that stops working on one
of the old keyboards.  You need to take apart the keyboard and unsolder
the keyswitch (removing the key cap first, of course) from the board.  A
solder sucker is useful in this operation, but not essential.  Then with 
a gentle prying action, you can release the plastic clips that hold the
switch in place and remove the keyswitch.  Then you take apart the 
keyswitch by gently prying off the cover.  Inside the keyswitch, you
will find a spring and a bent piece of metal.  The bent piece of metal
is responsible for making the contact.  After many pushes of the button,
the metal seems to flatten out some; to restore its function simply bend
it some more, replace everything (solder included), and you're done.

I don't know if you feel up to this operation, but it may well be
faster and cheaper than getting a replacement keyboard.

	--Mark