HP Forum Archive 16

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Refurbishing HP41CV Message #1 Posted by Les Wright on 20 Apr 2006, 7:41 p.m. My once very beloved HP41CV, which gave me years of long battery life and problem free use, was set aside for awhile in favour of an HP48G (which I also love). A casual eBay search has informed me that these lovely machines are collectors' items of a sort, so I am keen to revamp mine. My unit has suffered many of the problems discussed in this forum over the years. The display is wonky, some of the keys don't work so reliably (esp ALPHA and PRGM), and the battery life is awful, whereas in the first 10 years of use I changed the batteries at most 5 times, if that. I have opened the unit up, and have seen that the upper screw bosses are broken off (I found the pieces in the calculator), as are a couple of the flat rectangular plastic bits that help hold the piece that conducts the battery current to the mainboard in place (found those pieces too). That said, the much-discussed screw posts are intact. I have read enough of the archive to guess that my observed display problems are due in part to these structural difficulties interfering with the reliability of the pressure only contacts. The power issue is possible due to a leaky capacitor, or maybe just all the the turning off and on I do to get the display back. The bottom line is this--I want to get it fixed and am willing to pay accordingly for it. I don't want to get into messing with solvents to weld the plastic or a microsoldering iron to fix circuitry. This group has given me hope that the calculator can be restored to almost like-new functionality since all of the problems seem related to the integrity of the pressure only contacts, but I am convinced that someone who knows what to do should do it. Any ideas out there? I have heard mention of someone in Australia who does this work, but I was hoping to find someone on the North American continent, preferably Canada (I am in Toronto). The sentimental and collector's value of the unit is great, so I am willing to part with a few hundred dollars to restore it rather than just get another one. Thanks so much in advance for advice. Les Wright

Re: Refurbishing HP41CV Message #2 Posted by Thomas Cox on 20 Apr 2006, 8:24 p.m., in response to message #1 by Les Wright I have had excellent results using the services of FIXTHATCALC.COM on an HP-41CV. This service is in The United States. Check out the web-site mentioned above for details. Note: Other than being a satisfied customer of FIXTHATCALC, I have no connection with that business. 1234 to remove.

Re: Refurbishing HP41CV Message #3 Posted by Les Wright on 21 Apr 2006, 10:18 a.m., in response to message #2 by Thomas Cox Thank you! The flat rate pricing is almost too good to be true--I am hoping that the LCD and electronics are intact and that this will be fixed with repairing or replacing the damaged case-back. Even still, Fix That Calc's pricing is much less than I was expecting to pay. I have had some direct inquiries about buying a replacement, but for strangely impractical reasons I would like to refurbish this, use it gingerly for the rest of its life, and use handheld and PC-based emulators for the bulk of my HP41CV hobby calculating and programming. I am awaiting a reply from Fix That Calc, and I will keep the group posted. Just as a general comment, these are clearly marvelous machines. As I said, I acquired a 48G some years later, and despite the excellent functionality I never felt as nostalgically attached to it as to the 41CV. Something tells me contributors to this group understand this curious nerdy retro love affair.... Les

Re: Refurbishing HP41CV Message #4 Posted by Chiu Yiu Wai on 21 Apr 2006, 10:54 a.m., in response to message #3 by Les Wright fixthatcalc.com is a very good repair HP calculator , I have sent 2 nos. of 42s to them, and they have reapired it very very good. but I am sent my HP41 and card reader to Jon Ibarra (spain) repair, I find him on The Museum of HP Calculators , HP Calculator Ads , I feel it very good.

Re: Refurbishing HP41CV Message #5 Posted by Les Wright on 22 Apr 2006, 9:01 p.m., in response to message #2 by Thomas Cox The Fix That Calc fellow has been very helpful by email, and I shipped my HP41CV to him this weekend. I will let everyone know how it goes. In general, I have an excellent feeling about this fellow--he seems to be very familiar with my problems as described and seems optimistic to execute a repair that is somewhat less in price than a replacement. Thanks for the referral! Les

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Go back to the main exhibit hall