Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!clyde!att!rutgers!gatech!mcnc!decvax!tektronix!reed!kamath
From: kamath@reed.UUCP (Sean Kamath)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: //e Keyboard Problem
Message-ID: <11241@reed.UUCP>
Date: 2 Dec 88 04:52:16 GMT
References: <317@orbit.UUCP>
Reply-To: kamath@reed.UUCP (Sean Kamath)
Organization: Reed College, Portland OR
Lines: 39

In article <317@orbit.UUCP> shawn@pnet51.cts.com (Shawn Stanley) writes:
>DMG4449@RITVAX.BITNET writes:
>>I am having a rather irritating problem with my //e at home.  ...
>> Except
>>my E key did not function at all.  Built-in diagnostics found no errors
>>either.  Is this serious?  Do I need the keyboard replaced?!?!?!  Any
>>suggestions would be appreciated.
>
>The seriousness of the situation is hard to ascertain without looking at it,
>I'm sure.  Network hardware repair is, at best, difficult. 
>
>UUCP: {rosevax, crash}!orbit!pnet51!shawn
>INET: shawn@pnet51.cts.com

Your most probably have a bad keyswitch.  The Apple //e used both long and
short stem Alps keyswitches, where the ][+ used SMK type.  They can run you
about $6.00 from a dealer.  The way to check this is simple.  Whip out your
keyboard, but plug it back in.  THen take a short piece of wire and short
the terminals of the 'E' switch.  If an 'E' magically appears, you need to
replace the switch, or fix it.  I suggest replacing it.  However, I have
succesfully repaired the switches.  It is not easy, but you disassemble the
switch and reseat the thin metal film that acts as contact.  A can of gold
endz or whatever comes in handy, as well as tweezers and needle nose pliers
to remove the switch.

Alternatively, you can solder two wires to the terminals, and when you want
an 'E' just touch them together. . . :-) :-) :-)

There was an article in a mac-magazine recently on how to fix them.  I might
also be able to get a keyswitch for you off a dead keyboard if it's the
right type.

Sean

-- 
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