In this video, Adrian focuses on a Commodore 128D keyboard repair sent in by a viewer. At first glance, the keyboard looks similar to the standard Commodore 128 unit, though the 128D version has a key distinction: its cable is permanently soldered to the board rather than connected by a detachable plug.
Opening the case reveals a fairly dirty interior, with plastic fragments and dust everywhere. After removing the backplate and switches, Adrian gives the assembly a thorough cleaning, immediately improving its condition.
Identifying the Problems
The keyboard had several cracked or missing plunger guides, making some keys unusable. Adrian initially hoped to swap out individual plastic guides, but discovered they were part of the larger backplate. Instead, he decided to transplant a more complete backplate from another 128 keyboard, even though it had heavy yellowing and cosmetic wear.
To stabilize cracked pieces, Adrian tried standard glue with little success. Eventually, he turned to stronger epoxy solutions and careful filing to smooth the repaired surfaces.
Salvaging and Swapping Parts
The repair required patience. Broken key plungers, cracked stems, and missing caps meant parts had to be borrowed from multiple donor keyboards. Adrian used his stock of spare components to replace damaged keys, taking special care with fragile ones like the numeric keypad. He even experimented with ultra-fine syringes to apply adhesive into hairline cracks.
By combining the working PCB from the Commodore 128D with the backplate and keys from a flat 128 keyboard, Adrian managed to create a solid working unit. After cleaning and reassembly, the keyboard looked significantly better and functioned reliably.
Testing and Results
Once reinstalled in the 128D, the keyboard powered up and typed correctly. Minor cosmetic issues, like yellowing keys, remained, but Adrian noted those could be improved later with retrobrite. The project also left him with a rebuilt spare keyboard for one of his flat 128s, proving nothing went to waste.
The video shows that with persistence and spare parts, even challenging keyboards can be restored. Adrian’s work on this Commodore 128D keyboard repair demonstrates the benefit of interchangeable components across Commodore models.
