Keyboard surgery
 
 
The final straw was when a glass of wine was spilled into the keyboard of my G3 iBook and the 4,5,R,T,F,G, keys stopped working. So I decided that it was time to operate. Dissecting an iBook keyboard
First step was to remove the key caps. I used a small flat nail file to carefully pry them off
All of the small square sized keys removed
A poorly focused view of all the in in between the keys
More dirt. Here you can see the individual scissor mechanisms still on each key.
All of the small function keys, and the slightly larger square keys removed.
To remove the scissors, you need to first lift one side..
I held one side up with tweezers, while gently pushing the legs in to release them.
One scissor mechanism.
All the scissors removed, leaving the longer keys.
The long keys have support bars. The space bar has 3 scissor mechanisms.
You need to release the key cap from the support bar and the scissor.
The Shift key has a bar and one large scissor.
The Caps Lock and Tab keys also have large scissor mechanisms.
Close up of the larger scissors.
Close up of the dirt.
The Return key with its bar still attached.
My camera had no zoom or macro lens, so I decided to improvise.
My new macro lens.
A close up of the locking slider. These just slide off, but beware of the tiny spring inside
The slide lock on.
The slide lock off.
At this point I could start to peel off the top layer.
This is one of two fake spacer keys, in between the directional arrows.
the only thing holding it together is...
...the Num Lock light at the top...
.. and something unknown at the bottom.
The Num Lock key off. The little light stays on the keyboard.
The top layer peeled off. The unknown substance holding it together was just the accumulation of stuff that had spilled. iinto it keyboard over time.
Close up of the dirt.
It’s amazing all the dirt that gets inside and doesn't come out.. Think eyelashes, eyebrows and facial hair along with food crumbs and dust.
The second layer contains the contacts.
This was a little tougher to peel off ...
... but finally did release.
Summary.