To Repair, or Not Repair, My 41CV Again

[Chumango]

I bought a used Full Nut HP-41CV in 1983. It got me through college and many years as a practicing chemical engineer. It was my only calculator until a couple of years ago when it finally quit working - I could not turn it on.

I looked around and found the 35S and the DM41X, and got them. Then I found ways to fix my 41CV - I took the case apart, did not observe anything wrong, and reassembled it. It worked again!

Then the divide key got mushy, and I had to press hard to get it to register. Looking around, I heard of something that might help - Craig Deoxit. I opened the case again and applied Deoxit to the tiny hole above the offending key. I carefully inspected the posts with a light and a magnifying glass, and three of the four were cracked, one quite badly (the upper post on the side opposite the on/off key). I applied super glue to the inside of the posts hoping it would give something for the screws to grab.

Both of the support pads on the back case - where the screws snug up - were broken off. I glued one back in place, but I was unable to find the other. I cut a piece of plastic to the right size and glued it in place and drilled a hole for the screw.

After I put it back together - nothing. I can't turn it on.

So, should I go ahead and get the replacement posts and attempt repair again? It would mean additional surgery. Or should I just chalk it up to an old calculator finally giving up? For reference, I have the 41 repair book from The Calculator Store.

A concern I have is, what if the divide key still does not work? It might not have been a post problem. That key feels different from the other keys now, it did not before. I'd hate to go through the trouble and expense of doing this to find that such an important key does not work.

I do have my father's 41C that is fully functional, and others as well (42S, 32SII, 15C CE) but this 41CV has sentimental value to me.