HOW TO DISASSEMBLE AND CLEAN YOUR TI-59?

I. SOME INITIAL REMARKS.

This is version 1.0 of this article.

Most common troubles with TI59 calculators are caused probably by their magnetic card readers; this
article should help you solve these problems. Below, I've only included repairs that do not require
breaking into electronics (without soldering, to be precise). The card readers of the TI59s are, to be sure,
very solid and reliable, but with time they wear away or simply get dirty. Since the other elements
(electronics, keyboard) could go out of order as well, therefore not any card reading problem stands for the
card reader damage. Thus, before you disassemble the calculator (its always a little bit risky!) I suggest
to try the following:

1. Control the voltage of Battery Pack (it should be ca. 3,6V),

2. Try to work with AC adaptor/charger (AC9900/H, A9900/Ht, 220V/6,2V200mA) AND battery
pack together,
3. Use Cleaning Cards,
4. Put some alcohol or magnetic head cleaning liquid on the Cleaning Card. They are saturated with
cleaning solution, but with time they could be just dried.
5. Try to use other (surely good written) magnetic card.

If the above doesnt help your card reader is probably really damaged (or, at least, dirty) and you have to
repair, or clean it. Its a good opportunity to clean the whole machine thoroughly. If you are afraid, that
your experience in electronics and mechanics is not sufficient I suggest to charge whichever wizard
for this task. Keep always in mind, that:

!! THERE ARE NO SPARE PARTS FOR THESE OLD CALCULATORS !!

It means if something goes wrong you can get the spare parts only from another machine. Repairing
the damaged parts is mostly either very hard, or impossible at all.

This article was written only for informational purpose. The author takes no responsibility for any
consequences of using this information, especially if someone damages his calculator or himself.

You can download, copy, share with friends and print out this article but:

You cant use this materials for any commercial purpose, or for any public display (commercial or
noncommercial),
Modify the materials,
Remove any copyright, or other proprietary notations from this materials.

Thanks to Micha Wronko for helping to prepare of this article.

And now to the subject.

II. WHAT DO YOU NEED?

1. Flat screwdriver, or small coin,

2. Precision Philips screwdriver,
3. Precision flat screwdriver (max. 2 mm broad),
4. Sharp knife,
5. Precision pliers,
6. Several cotton swabs for cleaning,
7. Soft rags or paper for cleaning,
8. A small brush for cleaning,
 9. A piece of plastic foil,
10. A 68 x 95 mm piece of ca. 2 mm thick sponge (optionally for exchange).
11. Alcohol and/or magnetic head cleaning fluid,
12. White spirit (only for gear cleaning!),
13. Paraffin jelly or similar light lubricant,
14. Common dental cream for polishing of display filter,
15. Common dish detergent,
16. A small box for the small parts.
17. Enough of time, patience, skills and maybe a big hammer (in case of last despair).

On all the photos below the points of interest are marked in blue; the things to move (press) are marked
in orange.

III. REMOVING OF THE BATTERY PACK (BP1A).

Firstly disconnect the AC adapter/charger. The electronics of your TI59 could be irreversibly damaged
when working with AC adapter/charger without battery pack inside!

Then lever the battery pack with a small coin (or flat screwdriver) and take it out. If you suspect, that the
battery compartment got dirty (NiCd rechargeable batteries are corroded, or even flowed out) remove
the Library Module first, then open the case and try to remove the battery pack. Be careful the cells and
flowed out chemicals are toxic! Follow your local rules of disposal.

IV. REMOVING OF THE LIBRARY MODULE.

Pull the module cover out. The module itself should drop out free; its fixed only with cover and contact
springs.
V. OPENING OF THE CASE.

Using Philips screwdriver turn these two screws out.

Raise the case up and simultaneously shift aside, as the arrows show. There are two plastic catches inside
dont break them.

VI. REMOVING OF THE MAIN BOARD.

Using Philips screwdriver turn out the four screws holding the main board and drive.
Push the both plastic catches of main board as shown. Do it very gently they are really easy to damage
(break). Note, that the catches dont hold the main board immediately, but the keyboard module
underneath.

Lever the main board with drive (from both sides) with a flat screwdriver and pull them up.

VII. CASE, KEYBOARD AND DISPLAY FILTER CLEANING.

Probably after removing the main board it will be somewhat messy (therefore its really not bad idea to
notice the keyboard layout in time; anyway dont worry! www.datamath.org/ and wwww.rskey.org/
are always helpful for you).
Remove the red display filter pressing both plastic catches with your thumbs as the arrows show.

Now you can clean the case, keys and display filter with some common dish detergent. Additionally you
could polish the filter with common dental crme. Dont polish the gold letters (if they survived up to
now) they will rubbed out!
Try any cleaning liquid first on an invisible place some stronger detergents could be pretty aggressive!

VIII. SPONGE EXCHANGING.

Sponge is not fixed (glued) to the keyboard module it should remove freely. Probably its very old and
will tear. Its no problem clean gently the module form the rests of an old sponge and simply lay a new
piece on it. Dont glue the sponge to keyboard module.

IX. RIBBON CABLES UNPLUGGING.

There are two ribbon cables to disconnect. Pull up the connector (best of all in very small steps, both
sides alternately). Notice the correct layout of the bands (blue arrows).
X. DISASSEMBLING OF THE DRIVE.

After disconnecting the bands you can take out and disassemble the drive. Lever the holding spring (as
shown) it should jump out (probably you need a precision pliers or tweezers to set it back). There is NO
other way to open the drive. If you try something other you will harm it probably irreversibly.

XI. CLEANING OF THE DRIVE.

There are four things to clean with alcohol or magnetic head cleaning fluid.

1. Pinch roll.
2. Magnetic head clamp,
3. Magnetic head front,
4. Capstan (probably you can clean it better after dismounting the gear).
XII. REMOVING OF THE GEAR.

Firstly lever the card sensor switch. It holds at the point marked with blue circle. You dont need to
remove it entirely its enough to make some room to pull the capstan out. Its reasonable to try to lever
this spring in several points.

Now detach the ribbon cable as shown (fortunately the glue doesnt hold too strong).

Pull very carefully the ribbon cable up and turn out the main screw holding the gear.
Turn out the two (and only!) screws holding the motor (marked with blue circles). Now you can take the
gear out.

XIII. CLEANING OF THE CAPSTAN.

Having the gear out of drive you can thoroughly clean the capstan with alcohol or magnetic head
cleaning fluid. Its essential for correct transport of magnetic cards.

XIV. DISASSEMBLING OF THE GEAR.

Turn out the four screws and lever a gear cover. If it doesnt go with your fingers use the sharp knife
(notice the blue arrow) to lever it.

XV. CLEANING AND GREASING OF THE GEAR.

Now you can clean the cogwheels. Do it, best of all, with white spirit and small brush. Its a good idea to
prepare a small piece of plastic foil (cut as shown) and fix on the capstan shaft, to prevent the capstan from
grease.

You can put a small drop of lubricant on the capstans shaft and some paraffin jelly (or similar grease) on
the cogwheels and their shafts. I would suggest to use a sour free medical Vaseline for this purpose.
Theoretically its possible to take out the last two cogwheels, but its very risky, and in fact unnecessary.
They can be as well cleaned and greased on their places.

That's all...
If youll find mistakes, errors or lacks simply email me: here Ill be grateful for any critical advices.

== THE END. ==