Keyboard troubles

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Last seen: 15 years 10 months ago
Joined: Mar 4 2008 - 09:22
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Keyboard troubles

i recently purchased an apple //e off of craigslist. i've been fooling around with basic. out of the blue the i key stops functioning. whats an easy/cheap way to fix this all the other keys work fine

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Last seen: 8 years 4 months ago
Joined: Apr 10 2006 - 20:01
Posts: 1013
Re: Keyboard troubles

out of the blue the i key stops functioning. whats an easy/cheap way to fix this all the other keys work fine

I saw this the other day:
http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?t=9517

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Last seen: 8 years 1 month ago
Joined: Jan 29 2008 - 06:55
Posts: 44
If the key is truly broken an

If the key is truly broken and not just dirty you should be able to find an Apple IIe keyboard on ebay. They usually are pretty cheap.

If you can't find one I can scavenge one from my donor keyboard which I used to fix broken keys on a II+ keyboard.

BTW, the II+ and IIe use the same switches, just the key tops are different.

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Last seen: 3 weeks 5 days ago
Joined: Dec 13 2005 - 08:40
Posts: 265
Hi, This might work. As it h

Hi,
This might work. As it has worked more than once. Remove the key cap. If you need help on how to do that with out breaking the stem in it just ask.
Use dry compress air and blow the area clean. Now with the stem just exposed. Use a set of small needle nose plyers to work the stem up and down. You do not need to force it down hard or grip it hard. But you do need to have a little more force pulling it up. This has to be done around 40-50 times. The Upstroke is IMPORTANT.

The upstroke is the KEY, it might break the contacts loose so they work. If this does not bring it back then you do not have too many options.
A few people have taken them apart. Trying to remember what it all looked liked. Small contacts and membrane like layers.

There are two types of switches. Long throw and short throw. That is about all I can remember. This has to do with th lenght of the stem.

They had an Ebay auction for one of these switches.

Take Care

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Last seen: 15 years 10 months ago
Joined: Mar 4 2008 - 09:22
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no luck

i've tried to clean it then the pliers approach with no luck.
the keyboard seems to be stuck to the circuit board as i can't get them apart any suggestions?

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Last seen: 13 years 6 months ago
Joined: Feb 17 2008 - 12:45
Posts: 195
"Remove the key cap. If you n

"Remove the key cap. If you need help on how to do that with out breaking the stem in it just ask"

I am going to need to do this to a very old 1979 Apple II.
Can you please walk me through the best way of removing a key cap without breaking the stem. Many thanks

Arun

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