Hey Lee, I like how you're highlighting which pins you're probing on the little diagram, can't recall if you've done it before but definitley, keep doing it! Very Noel-esque 😁
Ive done it on the main channel before. But it depends if I am clearly saying what the pins are in the video, otherwise it doesnt make a lot of sense :D
If you want to get the sticky off, just brush the white spirit on with a small brush and leave it for about 10 minutes. You only need a very small amount and after the ten minutes, the sticky stuff will come off easily. The trick is to wait for the white spirit to soak into the sticky stuff and only use a very small amount. Love your videos and am looking forward to the next one already. Take care and stay safe, Joe
Nice repair! My first ever computer (in 1985 when everyone else was rocking a Spectrum) I found some ZX81 games the other week i forgot i'd bagged about 25 years ago. Will have to get me another machine one day.
Excellent troubleshooting and repair. I have yet to get my hands on a ZX81 (or rather a Timex Sinclair 1000 here in 🇨🇦). I've had great luck with using masking tape or duct tape to pull off old stubborn adhesives. Give that go next time - you might be pleasantly surprised.
In my experience, Goo Gone is by far the best solution for removing this kind of adhesive and is absolutely plastic safe. Soak the glue and leave for 5 minutes then agitate gently with a cocktail stick or plastic spudger so that it all coagulates into lumps. Then wipe off the lumps with a cloth soaked in ipa. Perfect finish. No scratch marks. No real effort. No bad smells (Goo Gone has a citrus base and smells a bit like orange peel). Works better than WD40 without leaving the oily residue.
Thank you! I totally forgot I have some limonene which would do a similar job to Eucalyptus. I have had that melt some plastic though so am a little reluctant to use it again.
It is possible to squeeze the PCB from a cheap composite video to HDMI adapter inside a ZX81 case. One of mine has an HDMI port on the right hand side with the board mounted upside down in the top half of the case, as well as the "traditional" 16KB internal RAM mod with a timing tweak to make it compatible with most software versions of hi-res graphics. I also chucked in a switch-mode regulator for good measure and it runs much cooler now, so no more cooked keyboard. The HDMI output looks surprisingly good!
There is a 1k game where you shoot passing ships. It is originaly type in, but maybe available as a file. Nice repair. A DIY Ram Pack would be interesting, as original ones are quite rare and complex. There is a solution for a simple expansion to 3 or 4k I always wanted to build. Never been a fan of internal modifications...
WD40 and contact cleaner are quite good for removing that sort of goop. I replaced the keyboard surround on a Beeb and got the goop of with Electrolube :)
I have two ZX81s, one of which had a still working membrane and the other required replacing. Mine was the same as yours and was a nightmare to remove. I used WD40 and let it soak for 10 minutes. Still really messy, but it did help. Also, I find the new keyboards are far stiffer and much worse to type on than the originals. My original keyboard ZX81, whilst still being awful, is much easier than the replacement to type on and requires very little effort. You just need to lightly tap. None of the replacements I’ve seen have been anywhere close to an original keyboard in terms of feel.
I found this to be the case too. The replacement is a big downgrade. Will make me try to keep my original ones intact! I do have a couple of options to have a mechanical keyboard 81 though...
Hi Lee, I couldn't find a screen the same as yours, but in case your current one ever dies, I've found another Samsung model that has all the same inputs - the Samsung SyncMaster 2333HD - great for all-things retro. The UK version has RGB SCART.
What app do you use to load tapes to the ZX81? I've used one for the Speccy but just about to embark on fixing up my "new" ZX81 and wondering what to use to load things...
I use PlayZX. Its meant for the ZX Spectrum, but you can drop .tap files for the 81 onto your android device and browse to them in the app to load them through that. Works very well. You do need to fiddle with the settings to make it work though on some devices, depending what audio cable you use.
@@morefunfixingit Ah thanks for that, that is what I use to load to my 48k+ I have to pretty much do what you did here and do the keyboard and composite mod first but really looking forward to getting it going. Thanks for the video, it will be a big help!
Hiya, love the channel! Yeah use some WD40 or even better some sticky label remover. Great to see another Zeddy alive and kicking! ☺️
Cheers!
Lots of people suggesting WD40. I will certainly try it next time.
+1 for WD40
@@stevvieb +2 for WD40, works great, spray it, leave it to soak in and then it just comes off.
WD40 for the gunge, Isoprop to remove the WD40 residue was how I did it.
I do have a soft-spot for the ZX81. It's always nice to see one given a new lease of life.
They are very dear to my heart. Probably the machine that makes me smile the most.
@@morefunfixingit It was my first computer, so I guess that adds to it. Anyway, nice job on getting it fixed up, Lee.
Hey Lee, I like how you're highlighting which pins you're probing on the little diagram, can't recall if you've done it before but definitley, keep doing it! Very Noel-esque 😁
Ive done it on the main channel before. But it depends if I am clearly saying what the pins are in the video, otherwise it doesnt make a lot of sense :D
If you want to get the sticky off, just brush the white spirit on with a small brush and leave it for about 10 minutes. You only need a very small amount and after the ten minutes, the sticky stuff will come off easily. The trick is to wait for the white spirit to soak into the sticky stuff and only use a very small amount.
Love your videos and am looking forward to the next one already.
Take care and stay safe,
Joe
Cheers Joe! I suffer from a huge lack of patience :D I will try to wait a bit next time. Have a few different suggestions to try.
Nice repair! My first ever computer (in 1985 when everyone else was rocking a Spectrum) I found some ZX81 games the other week i forgot i'd bagged about 25 years ago. Will have to get me another machine one day.
The really lovely thing about the ZX81 is its still pretty cheap to get one these days. Recommend a composite mod though!
@morefunfixingit Yes the difference after the mod was night and day (literally!)
Excellent troubleshooting and repair. I have yet to get my hands on a ZX81 (or rather a Timex Sinclair 1000 here in 🇨🇦).
I've had great luck with using masking tape or duct tape to pull off old stubborn adhesives. Give that go next time - you might be pleasantly surprised.
Someone else suggested masking tape, but duct tape is a great idea!
In my experience, Goo Gone is by far the best solution for removing this kind of adhesive and is absolutely plastic safe. Soak the glue and leave for 5 minutes then agitate gently with a cocktail stick or plastic spudger so that it all coagulates into lumps. Then wipe off the lumps with a cloth soaked in ipa. Perfect finish. No scratch marks. No real effort. No bad smells (Goo Gone has a citrus base and smells a bit like orange peel).
Works better than WD40 without leaving the oily residue.
For old glue removal the D-Lemonen stuff is excellent. And smells nice! 🙂
Lighter fluid is hands down the best thing to get rid of sticky residue, and also an amazing contact cleaner. Just be careful with it 😊
Great video Lee! Eucalyptus oil is my go-to for removing stickers, it also smells much more pleasant than WD40.
Thank you! I totally forgot I have some limonene which would do a similar job to Eucalyptus. I have had that melt some plastic though so am a little reluctant to use it again.
It is possible to squeeze the PCB from a cheap composite video to HDMI adapter inside a ZX81 case. One of mine has an HDMI port on the right hand side with the board mounted upside down in the top half of the case, as well as the "traditional" 16KB internal RAM mod with a timing tweak to make it compatible with most software versions of hi-res graphics. I also chucked in a switch-mode regulator for good measure and it runs much cooler now, so no more cooked keyboard. The HDMI output looks surprisingly good!
That is madness and I LOVE IT. I might have to look into this for one of my own 81's.
As has been said a few time Lee, you need to invest in a can of label remover. They are not too expensive and don't leave a residue like WD40.
I will add it to my wishlist!
Hi, great video. Love the ZX81. I have one with the same FB in marker pen in the same place....maybe the QA person that checked it or final assembler.
Yeah, that will be their mark. Twin 81's!
WD40 is great for removing sticky residue.
Ive found masking tape works well at lifting sticky residue, you have to pull quickly and repeat.
Thats a neat idea. I will give that a go
I found lighter fluid works a treat on stuff like this, comes right off. Great vid as always.
Thanks! I might have to get some
There is a 1k game where you shoot passing ships. It is originaly type in, but maybe available as a file. Nice repair. A DIY Ram Pack would be interesting, as original ones are quite rare and complex. There is a solution for a simple expansion to 3 or 4k I always wanted to build. Never been a fan of internal modifications...
WD40 and contact cleaner are quite good for removing that sort of goop. I replaced the keyboard surround on a Beeb and got the goop of with Electrolube :)
Im making notes of all of these suggestions and will try to try them all!
I have two ZX81s, one of which had a still working membrane and the other required replacing. Mine was the same as yours and was a nightmare to remove. I used WD40 and let it soak for 10 minutes. Still really messy, but it did help. Also, I find the new keyboards are far stiffer and much worse to type on than the originals. My original keyboard ZX81, whilst still being awful, is much easier than the replacement to type on and requires very little effort. You just need to lightly tap. None of the replacements I’ve seen have been anywhere close to an original keyboard in terms of feel.
I found this to be the case too. The replacement is a big downgrade. Will make me try to keep my original ones intact! I do have a couple of options to have a mechanical keyboard 81 though...
@@morefunfixingit A mechanical ZX81 sounds fun. Would love to see a video on it!
It will almost certainly be a video if it all comes together how Im hoping.
Sticky label remover or WD40 works well to remove the glue. Just let it soak in a little before removing with a paper towel and cleaning with IPA.
Thank you!
Hi Lee, I couldn't find a screen the same as yours, but in case your current one ever dies, I've found another Samsung model that has all the same inputs - the Samsung SyncMaster 2333HD - great for all-things retro. The UK version has RGB SCART.
I think there are a few that are suitable from that range of models. Glad you found one!
WD40 can soften sticky residue. I would recommend trying it.
Last time I saw a keyboard that sticky it was on a Speccy from guy who loved Sam Fox Strip Poker
Ewwwwwww!
@@morefunfixingit 😄 I see that the key repeat that you mention at 23:23 works on the 'w' !
🤣
What app do you use to load tapes to the ZX81? I've used one for the Speccy but just about to embark on fixing up my "new" ZX81 and wondering what to use to load things...
I use PlayZX. Its meant for the ZX Spectrum, but you can drop .tap files for the 81 onto your android device and browse to them in the app to load them through that. Works very well. You do need to fiddle with the settings to make it work though on some devices, depending what audio cable you use.
@@morefunfixingit Ah thanks for that, that is what I use to load to my 48k+
I have to pretty much do what you did here and do the keyboard and composite mod first but really looking forward to getting it going.
Thanks for the video, it will be a big help!
I've found that WD40 is great for sticky labels.
Nimm Wundbenzin für den Kleber dann geht es einfacher
B for Broken?
The clue was there all along!