64K Repair

[deanclaxton]

This will be the thread where I tackle some initial repairs to my recently aquired 64K machine.

Current Status - seems to work in that I get a prompt, but there are a heap of dead keys.

To Do :

• Replace missing key caps (Brad has sent me some)
  
• Remove, clean and reinstall ALL key switches
  
• Understand the purpose of all the hardware mods on the main PCB
  
• Clean up the mods - some pretty awful soldering there
  
• Get the floppy drive unit (SBC01) tested and perhaps install a Gotek
  
• Fully test the machine with software loaded from disk/gotek
  
• Investigate options for a ROMX type product for Microbee (https://theromexchange.com)
  

Some pictures of the machine as it is today:





The rear of the board - lots of mods/bodge wires :



Some close ups :





I noted that a couple of IC's had legs removed, with some of the mods attaching the signals elsewhere. One of my objectives is to understand the mods and clean them up. I believe there is a hardware reference book that covers off the modifications that were published? 

This is a rev F board so perhaps some of the mods were included in later hardware.

Anyway - fun times ahead - my first Microbee

cheers,
Dean