Repairing Keyboard on Timex Sinclair 1000 ZX81 Computer

[madmax2069]

I wonder if replacing that stock ribbon cable with a old ribbon cable that connects to a ATA HDD would work.

[bamageddrain]

@madmax2069 I saw somewhere online where someone cut the ribbon like 1" from the keyboard end, unsoldered the connector from the board and plugged it in right up close to the keyboard there, then used old drive ribbon to rewire the connector to the board. That's an option I've considered before too but it would be a little scary having to unsolder that connector from the circuit board.

[madmax2069]

@bamageddrain yeah it could give you more troubles, especially with older hardware.

[conorferguson]

exactly the video i was looking for... and when i opened it up... it was just as you described.. so now i'm at the part where i'm trying to get the ribbons back in...it's very tricky. i think i need another pair of hands to help... thank you for uploading this.

[bamageddrain]

@conorferguson Another note: The first time I tried this I noticed that on the smaller of the 2 ribbons the connector doesn't exactly line up perfectly with the ribbons position. Just the way it was designed. It makes it try to angle in a little bit as it goes in. The shorter the cut the bigger the pulling. If there is ever a "next time" I might try splitting that ribbon to reduce the pulling.

Good luck!