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RE: Microbee restoration - bcg1976 - 04-07-2026
(22-06-2026, 10:52 AM)MbeeTech Wrote:(21-06-2026, 07:09 AM)aladinsane Wrote: Besides from sourcing 2 new 6545 it would seem I have to start cleaning the keyboard switches. Is it correct that I need to desolder each switch, dismantle it and clean the parts before refitting it? It's the black variant and I tried to remove a random key and clean it. Now it shows ~1k ohm when pressed.
The best thing you can do in terms of having the keyboards fully working and reliable, is to get a keyboard replacement kit.
https://microbeetechnology.com.au/store/keyboard-replacement-kit-standard-non-premium.html
While you can sometimes get a good rate of success in repairing the old switches, they don't tend to last. The keyboard replacement kits have a different type of switch that is still compatible with the key caps
but is fully metal on metal switch contacts, and should outlast the machines. It is quite a job doing the replacement, but actually less work than trying to repair the old individual switches.
You can download the instructions on the product page before purchase to see how it all goes together.
Hello! I have recently bought a fairly sad Microbee from eBay for far too much money and have seen your recomendation here for a keyboard kit. Sadly, a lot of things on your website are out of stock. Are you likely to get new kit back in stock particularly for keyboard repairs etc? I'm also probably chasing a new coreboard as the old one has been destroyed by the battery.
RE: Microbee restoration - MbeeTech - 04-07-2026
Hello bcg1976
I have parts incoming for another batch of keyboard replacement kits. They should arrive Monday or Tuesday, at which point I have some kits ready to go but missing the incoming 5v regulators.
Also incoming are the parts required to get some more plug packs and power / video / cassette leads together.
Sadly, we cannot help with a replacement coreboard. How bad is the battery damage? If you wanted to send it in, we could possibly repair it for you.
RE: Microbee restoration - aladinsane - 17-10-2026
Time for an update. Both of my machines live again
Both had faulty PIO-chips and one of them had a semi-defunctional 6545 chip. Both machines had shorted 7805 and completely dead keyboards.Replacing the faulty chips was easy enough once I identified the faults - and a big thank you for all the help and pointers! The keyboards was a pain and I really do believe that I qualify for full membership of the "Microbee Keyboard Renovation Club"
I desoldered 2x 60 keys, dismantled them, cut of a extremely thin sliver of the conductive carbonized rubber, cleaned the pads, reassembled them and re-soldered all 2x 60 keys.Then I could type in a few programs but it took me some time to figure out that I had to use LOADU? "" in order to load anything from tape and WAV files. But now everything seems to be in order and I two fully functional machines - one 32K and one 16K.
I celebrated the success by diving into Z80 assembly. I'm more familiar with 6502 for Apple II, NES and C64, but I have made a few thing for Sinclair ZX81. However, I soon discovered that the graphics is handled quite different
Well, the result is a small graphics viewer for both HIRES and LOWRES images.Once again: thank you all for your help
Btw, one machine is enough for me, so I'll probably unload the other at some point. I don't plan to get rich from a sale, but what should I demand if I don't want do cheat myself?
RE: Microbee restoration - ChickenMan - 18-10-2026
Well done in getting both bees up and running again. A 16k untested Microbee recently sold on ebay for over $500.