Should I bother? HP-34C in rough shape

[aurelio]

(04-18-2017 11:06 AM)Maximilian Hohmann Wrote:  Hallo!

(04-18-2017 06:12 AM)Adam Vaughn Wrote:  Getting back to the battery issue, does anyone have any ideas about what would be the best way to remove the old battery pack without doing much damage?

The damage is already done, there is not much that you can make worse now. The crystalline stuff is mostly electrolyte which is more or less harmless, but as it may also contain some traces of cadmium it is better to be careful. Wear rubber gloves and do not inhale any dust.
I would carefully scratch away the crystals using a wooden toothpick or plastic stick until there is sufficient clearance to pull the battery out. If some parts of the calculator remain attached to the battery they were broken anyway.
After that disassemble the calculator and clean all plastic parts with normal water. With the innards of the calculator it depends how far the electrolyte has already "traveled" along the PCB. You can immerse the affected end in distilled water until the electrolyte is dissolved, rinse and dry it. After that it depends on the amount of damage how much of Geoff's repair instructions will be required...
If the electrolyte has already found it's way into the display it is probably not worth to attempt a repair however.

Good luck
Max

Think positive, Adam, and don't worry too much...you 'll succeed to restore your calculator..
hold it upside down and try gently to remove the electrolite as much as possible; do it with a old paint brush ...(cut it on the top to make it shorter)
Then try with a wooden toothpick to discover the space between the battery pack and the plastic case, use it also to complete the work you have started with the brush.
using the toothpick try gently a leverage to check if the battery pack is still "attached" to the body or it moves, if moving the pack will drop on your table (cover it with old newspapers before to star the procedure, you will throw away with it all the dust).
I should avoid in this first step to use water (Maximilian will excuse me) for cleaning..
after completing the cleaning of the battery compartment we can check now the healt of the battery contacts on the machine (if they still exist, who knows) then you can try to open the calculator and the big mistery will be revealed (as Crazy Horse said to W.B. Hickok )