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Pioneer - broken key - jay - 12-02-2016 03:56 AM

I have a Pioneer with a broken key - the key works, but the hinge is broken, so the key is loose and wobbly. Any tips on how to fix it?


RE: Pioneer - broken key - Raymond Del Tondo - 12-02-2016 12:13 PM

(12-02-2016 03:56 AM)jay Wrote:  I have a Pioneer with a broken key - the key works, but the hinge is broken, so the key is loose and wobbly. Any tips on how to fix it?
It may be easier to replace the whole calc, at least as long it's not an HP-42S, 32SII, or 27S .
And even on those rarer and more expensive Pioneers the problem stays the same: Broken polymer chains. You may have to dismantle the whole calc, which involves various one time plastic connections (stakes) only to get access to the keyboard matrix from behind. IMHO not worth the effort in most cases.


RE: Pioneer - broken key - jay - 12-02-2016 01:24 PM

(12-02-2016 12:13 PM)Raymond Del Tondo Wrote:  
(12-02-2016 03:56 AM)jay Wrote:  I have a Pioneer with a broken key - the key works, but the hinge is broken, so the key is loose and wobbly. Any tips on how to fix it?
It may be easier to replace the whole calc, at least as long it's not an HP-42S, 32SII, or 27S .
And even on those rarer and more expensive Pioneers the problem stays the same: Broken polymer chains. You may have to dismantle the whole calc, which involves various one time plastic connections (stakes) only to get access to the keyboard matrix from behind. IMHO not worth the effort in most cases.

It's a 42S that I got non-working from eBay and repaired; I have a few others that I've successfully fixed, so I'm not concerned about further dismantling this one.

I believe the key hinges can be accessed more easily from the front by removing the faceplate, but I'm hoping someone has a tip on how to repair the hinge itself.


RE: Pioneer - broken key - mfleming - 12-03-2016 12:04 AM

You can access the keys with the faceplate removed, though since it is all one piece of plastic I'm not sure how you might repair the hinge. The attached photo should help!

~ Mark
[attachment=4237]


RE: Pioneer - broken key - striegel - 12-03-2016 12:51 AM

(12-02-2016 01:24 PM)jay Wrote:  ... a tip on how to repair the hinge itself.

Sometimes a drop of super glue (cyanoacrylate) at the broken point will work. It is not always permanent.

Maybe have a look here for a longer-lived and more involved repair.