Hello!

#1 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 - 19:45 68kMLA

I have recently acquired a model M0116 keyboard (the compact mechanical version from the late '80s). It's in great condition overall, and I've just spent a couple of hours cleaning all the plastics.

However, one of the keys is unreliable and I find myself missing that letter from time to time when typing.

Anyone got any ideas? Will a blast of compressed air sort it out, or is the switch likely on the way out? I was under the impression the Salmon Alps switches were rated for tens of millions of actuations.

#1 Sat, 7 Apr 2007 - 03:09 PPCMLA

Hello, you may have seen me in Applefritter or the 68KMLA, I thought I should be here too.
I've been using macs since I was about 2 years old (MacPaint, SpaceStation Pheta), and I now have 7 PowerPC macs in my collection, some in this picture and also a bondi blue iMac with Mac OS 8.6, 9.2.2, Puma, Jaguar, Panther and Gentoo Linux, and an eMac and a G4 iBook running Tiger.
The beige G3 has been serving zydeco.ath.cx since march, which I currently only use for prototyping stuff, before it was the iMac with Panther, and before that (2001-2004) the Performa 6320 first running Mac OS 7 and then 8.1, with NetPresenz as HTTP server, and some HyperCard CGIs I made for remote administration.

I now have a macbook as my main computer, I think it's the first Mac I'll sell when I get a new one.
_________________
So this is how PowerPC dies... with thunderous applause

#2 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 - 20:44 68kMLA

Spray some Contact Cleaner into the slide of the switch. Something inside the switch is contaminating it.

Also take apart the keyboard base and see if the solder joint of the switch is intact. Desolder the switch and put in some fresh solder if the joint looks bad

#3 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 - 23:10 68kMLA

Thanks. Is WD-40 likely to work? I don't have any contact cleaner to hand.

#4 Sun, 31 Aug 2014 - 23:48 68kMLA

not usually, no. Need a can of deoxit or something of the like. The plating on the internal contacts begins to tarnish, and it causes nastiness like this.

#5 Wed, 3 Sep 2014 - 19:35 68kMLA

Taking the keyboard apart will most likely reveal crumbs, dust, hair, and other contaminants that shouldn't be in there. Cleaning all the crap out of the keyboard will go a long way to fixing any issues you may have with keys working sporadically. Oxidized contacts are easier to clean once you have all the other crap out of the way.

#6 Thu, 4 Sep 2014 - 10:25 68kMLA

Already cleaned the crap out of this keyboard. It's squeaky clean.

#7 Mon, 15 Sep 2014 - 10:45 68kMLA

An update:

I've used contact cleaner on the switch, checked the solder joints, and even dismantled the switch to inspect the contacts. It's still intermittently missing keystrokes. Troubling!

#8 Sun, 12 Oct 2014 - 22:21 68kMLA

I had an Extended Keyboard II like this and I found some green corrosion in the switch itself. I tried cleaning the switch but ended up switching it with a good one from a junk keyboard of the same model.