IBM 5251 Beamspring restore

[c12rlpac]

PCB board is rough looking on it is there anyway to restore it or buy another one and when I was tearing down the switches my kids took the o rings and dumped them in the sink anyway to have more made or buy them?

[tron]

It's possible to make a pcb based on Emdude's work if you have enough free time and the electronics engineering skills- https://github.com/emdude/XWhatsit-CommonSense-Compatible-IBM-3277-PCB

I actually have a spare 5251 pcb I bought a while back but haven't had time to test it. I would bet that your pcb is fully functional and still works. Did you test it before breaking the board down?

Regarding the O-rings. They are easy to replace through McMaster-Carr supply- https://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/124/3606

O-ring specs- 11mm OD, 7.5mm ID, 1.5mm H

You should create a restoration thread. Always nice to see an IBM machine come back to life

[darkcruix]

Funny - I bought the same O-rings recently

I can only amplify tron's request: I'd love to see your restoration ... I recently restored a 5251 myself, just waiting for a xwhatsit controller

[Kevadu]

When I got my beamspring it was extremely dirty but I found all it really needed was some cleaning.  You can clean the PCB with isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush.  There's not really a lot going on on those PCBs either...unless the conductive pads themselves are worn away I don't know what could even fail.  The controller and stuff is all on a separate board which you're probably going to replace anyway (for USB compatibility).

[c12rlpac]

here is a picture of the pcb and the plate after rust removal it was rusted all to hell now the patina looks pretty cool I think

[BlindAssassin111]

here is a picture of the pcb and the plate after rust removal it was rusted all to hell now the patina looks pretty cool I think

Was this the one on ebay recently?

[c12rlpac]

it was

[BlindAssassin111]

it was

Damn, I wanted that one but it went higher than I could afford. Hope it ends up working, I know that it needed a lot of work but worth the deal.

[c12rlpac]

its been a job so far I had to remove alot of rust but its fun I been after one for years

[JP]

Tron, I didn't realize you were in Ohio. We are practically neighbors 

[tron]

Tron, I didn't realize you were in Ohio. We are practically neighbors 

Now I know how you managed to land so many nice barn finds . Let me know if you plan to attend any meetups in my neck of the woods. Between our two collections we could probably set up the greatest beamspring exhibit the world has ever known )

[JP]

Tron, I didn't realize you were in Ohio. We are practically neighbors 

Now I know how you managed to land so many nice barn finds . Let me know if you plan to attend any meetups in my neck of the woods. Between our two collections we could probably set up the greatest beamspring exhibit the world has ever known )

Haha yeah. Not sure what part of Ohio you are from but I usually try and attend the Columbus meetup which is relatively close. I know they are doing the Cleveland meetup again but I'm undecided since it is a bit far.