PET 4016

From: Larry Anderson <foxnhare_at_goldrush.com>
Date: Wed Aug 12 21:51:16 1998

> From: <cdrmool_at_interlog.com>
> Subject: PET 4016
>
> I picked up a Commodore Pet for old times sake (it was the first desktop
> computer I ever got my hands on). Unfortunately a couple of keys are not
> responding consistantly. I suspect that some goop got spilled on it at
> some point (it was a board of education computer originally). I tried
> some head cleaner which has worked for me before but not this time.
> Anyone with experience with this with advice?
>
>
> TIA
> colan

Remove the keyboard and undo all those little screws (takes a long time,
especially after the second or third try to get a particular key working
again.) , unsolder the shift-lock switch then 'Erase' the circuit board
contacts with a pink pearl eraser then use the head cleaner to clean the board
further. Ususally the rubber 'feet' of the keys become dry or gunky and will
need to be cleaned to get them going I have seen jobs on PET keyboards to as
far as putting gold leaf on the feet, but it seems to only be a temporary
fix... I have found as a last resort to a troublesome key is a light brush
(on the rubber foot) with fine sand paper can get the contact working again.

 Careful what you try you don't want to damage anything.

> From: Scott Walde <scott_at_saskatoon.com>
> Subject: Re: PET 4016
>
> >Thanks, I'll give that a try. I was hoping that the head cleaner would
> >work its way under the keys and do the job,

To get it to where it is needed from the outside you would just about have to
soak it in cleaner (not good for the key ledgends). :/

> but I'll have to bite the
> >bullet and go inside.

It's not that bad, very simple design, just be grounded when you unplug and
re-plug the keyboard cable...

> By the way, what peripherals went with this thing?
>
> Typically a tape drive, maybe a disk drive, maybe a printer. The disk
> drives and printers connected to the IEEE-488 bus. (One of the two
> bigger edge connectors on the back.) The tape drive (the drives used on
> the VIC-20 will work) connects to the narrow edge connector.

Also the IEEE-488 can hook to a variety of scientific and Electronic Measuring
Devices, Plotters, etc. There were also Graphics boards (for higher
resolution) graphics tablets, and other nifty goodies. Check out the PET FAQ
I maintain for more information:

     http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/petfaq.html
-- 
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Larry Anderson - Sysop of Silicon Realms BBS (300-2400bd) (209) 754-1363
Visit my Commodore 8-Bit web page at:
                        http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/commodore.html
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Received on Wed Aug 12 1998 - 21:51:16 BST

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