Broken Keys on C=128 Keyboard

[Sega dude]

I was using my C=128 today and now alot of keys have stop working. The L,G,A and other keys no longer work. The A key did work before but I had to press it serval times for it to respond. Is there a way to fix it without opening my C=128? Can I just pop the keys off like a regular keyboard and clean them? I have read that dirt and debris could be the problem. Please help I don't want to get rid of this computer!

[RobertB]

Is there a way to fix it without opening my C=128? Can I just pop the keys off like a regular keyboard and clean them? I have read that dirt and debris could be the problem.

No, there is no shortcut to a thorough cleaning.  You'll have to disassemble keyboard and clean it.  Here is the link to the article written by Ray Carlsen --

     http://personalpages.tds.net/~rcarlsen/cbm/keyboard.txt

          FCUG celebrating 30 years,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group
          http://videocam.net.au/fcug
          The Other Group of Amigoids
          http://www.calweb.com/~rabel1/
          Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
          http://www.sccaners.org

[BigDumbDinosaur]

I'm assuming this is a "flat" C-128.  As long as you have it open, remove the EMI shield, clean the tops of the chips with which the shield makes contact and then apply a small amount of heat sink compound to the shield's fingers.  Reassemble and enjoy a somewhat cooler-running C-128.

The best cleaning agent is isopropanol, aka denatured alcohol solvent, commonly sold in paint shops and hardware stores.  Beware of static discharge while using solvent and/or handling your C-128's innards.

[Sega dude]

Is it necessary to unsolder the keyboard switches? I have NO soldering skills whatsoever.

[BigDumbDinosaur]

Is it necessary to unsolder the keyboard switches? I have NO soldering skills whatsoever.

It shouldn't be necessary.  You really should learn how to solder small electronics.  It does far more for hand-eye coordination than all the video games in the world.   

[Hydrophilic]

To do a complete job, you will have to unsolder the locking keys.  On the C64 and VIC 20 you could get to keys by the RETURN without unsoldering, but anyway, you have trouble with keys next to SHIFT LOCK so you gotta remove it.

Like BDD said, experience isn't neccessary.  With some components, especially transistors and diodes, you have to worry about over heating the component.  You also normally have to worry about overheating and tearing traces off the circuit boards.

But with the lock switches, there is really not much harm that can be done.  Worse case is you might melt some plastic by accident.  One tricky thing is the wires connected to the switches might be looped around the pin a few times, so some twisting with the help of needle nose plyers (sp?) may be needed.

Maybe the most important thing is be careful where you set down the soldering iron when not using it.  I can't tell you how many things I've melted through careless placement.

Umm, if you don't have a soldering iron, you can buy cheap one for under $20.  Of course you may know somebody who has one.  They would probably do it for you for free, as it would take an expereinced person about 5 minutes for all the switches.  If you go this route, may I suggest you watch him/her remove the first one, then try the others yourself.  Then you'll have another skill to add to your résumé