cbmeeks Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 Hello all. Been absent for a while but I thought I would restore one of my beige TI's this weekend. I get to the keyboard (Mitsumi) and noticed I cannot pull the keys off. I tried several different ones but they aren't budging. Now, I could use a lot of force and probably make something happen but my fear is that I will break something. Have any of you ever had this? The keyboard is really dirty and I suppose I could clean the keys while connected but I don't feel that is thorough enough. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 Hello all. Been absent for a while but I thought I would restore one of my beige TI's this weekend. I get to the keyboard (Mitsumi) and noticed I cannot pull the keys off. I tried several different ones but they aren't budging. Now, I could use a lot of force and probably make something happen but my fear is that I will break something. Have any of you ever had this? The keyboard is really dirty and I suppose I could clean the keys while connected but I don't feel that is thorough enough. Thanks. You remove the back board by removing all the screws and desolder the alpha lock key connections. The keys do not come apart.Sent from my LM-V600 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbmeeks Posted October 23, 2020 Author Share Posted October 23, 2020 Oh, are you saying you can't remove the key caps? Sorry, I might not have been clear. I'm looking to remove the key caps from the stems to clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOME AUTOMATION Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 If you remove the key caps, than you'll have two stems to clean. Though one will be kinda stubby! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 Considering the membrane is enclosed in the keyboard case, you could use a waterpick for an especially nasty looking unit. I find that Windex and Q-Tips work well. Seriously, if all the keys are working on a Mitsumi keyboard count your blessings. You know the old saying, "If it's not broken, don't fix it, just clean it." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbmeeks Posted October 23, 2020 Author Share Posted October 23, 2020 38 minutes ago, Omega-TI said: Considering the membrane is enclosed in the keyboard case, you could use a waterpick for an especially nasty looking unit. I find that Windex and Q-Tips work well. Seriously, if all the keys are working on a Mitsumi keyboard count your blessings. You know the old saying, "If it's not broken, don't fix it, just clean it." I share that opinion as well. I recently restored an Amiga 2000 keyboard and noticed that some of the keys were pulling some of the stem out. So I just cleaned in situ. I guess I will do the same for this keyboard. Also, I have no idea if it even works...lol. So I will find out soon. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Lee Stewart Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 2 hours ago, arcadeshopper said: The keys do not come apart. Not sure what you are saying. The caps are certainly removable—I’ve done it. ...lee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbmeeks Posted October 23, 2020 Author Share Posted October 23, 2020 I think they come off as well. But, either they are glued on by previous owner or 37 years have welded them together. lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhataKowinkydink Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 I've never been able to pull keys off a beige unit (though admittedly I never tried *that* hard to do so, since there wasn't really a reason to). And if they do come off, they certainly don't come off as easily as they do on black and silver units. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift838 Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 I think all depends on the model of the beige keyboard. I have ones that are not the membrane version that are very similar to the original black keyboards but are beige and they come off with no issue and have the littler copper fingers just like the black ones. Then I also have a couple of the membrane keyboards that the keys do not come off. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 ... I might add that I've seen a couple of Beige TI's on Ebay over the years with keys missing because someone tried to force the issue and broke the keys off. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbmeeks Posted October 24, 2020 Author Share Posted October 24, 2020 Dang, I didn't realize some of them actually don't come off! Glad I didn't force the issue. Seems like a really strange design decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkdrummer Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 It’s a Quality Improved decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted October 24, 2020 Share Posted October 24, 2020 7 hours ago, sparkdrummer said: It’s a Quality Improved decision. Texas Instruments was... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbmeeks Posted October 24, 2020 Author Share Posted October 24, 2020 3 minutes ago, Omega-TI said: Texas Instruments was... LMAO!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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