Before

The plastics were yellowed, everything was dusty and somebody drew on it with a permanent marker...

![IMG_20170604_174626.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQe4oRmvSeAi7rrfV5nJh4E78Nn7xU46CrMPeKoEDpvfC/IMG_20170604_174626.jpg) ![IMG_20170604_175323.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVsmMSKXCr3DhE4QVrHgXPyk6V61g7U4c88A4QUPdgYEM/IMG_20170604_175323.jpg)

Also, two keys were replaced with black keys from the older version of the C64.

![IMG_20170604_175338.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmekuWnnF4btHF5umLHNmqKRtWxKHNahbkd8848s4dvxjY/IMG_20170604_175338.jpg)

So, I first started with testing, if it still works. After plugging it in, it works perfectly fine!

![IMG_20170604_190424.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbdQzEPNAUVbUWMq3WhTgLm4tMouiFtFU1NWQigKrqmGn/IMG_20170604_190424.jpg)

Disassembly

I started the disassembly by removing the keys. I used a thin metal pry-tool to gently pry up each key. This showed, how dirty and disgusting the keyboard was! I noticed, that one pin was longer than the other! You’ll see why, later on.

![IMG_20170604_190911.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmczFHZetGPu4JMy1tFYZwYAgidoX97SFVQR38JiA8TH4B/IMG_20170604_190911.jpg) ![IMG_20170604_191337.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmeJc3zPq181Yhm7WHPgkqvV2ezifGeiwo8mgLNgVV6app/IMG_20170604_191337.jpg) ![IMG_20170604_191344.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZHf9JZ6FoWopQ7zmtWUQxotxjhTTHWtHKFYTh3qAn8ym/IMG_20170604_191344.jpg) ![IMG_20170604_191359_LI.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSpDtJuRGXV3Wc17FpnMCv7bjh9RGShcFrwhUQ2ZSRTGJ/IMG_20170604_191359_LI.jpg)

Then I opened the C64 up by unclipping three latches.

![IMG_20170604_191927_LI.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmc4WPwazN4mVJi3Y1gW4TNyDeKhAj35vbwV8Hm7j3apXB/IMG_20170604_191927_LI.jpg)

I removed the shielding and this revealed the dusty and dirty motherboard.

![IMG_20170604_192323.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQme9Xnr6cWDBz8F3pZ7DyTbFzVxmbgp5TWFE8NYnPELHTf/IMG_20170604_192323.jpg) ![IMG_20170604_192347.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmeFG88d2JmjJYyLsj9Y1inqpsf5m1SmNbfs6XEXN9kzXs/IMG_20170604_192347.jpg)

I removed the motherboard and the shield and started working on the keyboard. The keyboard was very easy to remove. First unplug it and then release a few more latches. (Don’t forget to remove the power LED) To tear the keyboard down, I removed 24 (!) screws on the bottom and desoldering the shift lock key. This revealed, that the one pin, which was longer than the others, in fact was a wrong replacement part, like the two black keys.

![IMG_20170607_164130_LI (2).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQs69SQ3q3cvvajGArkMBQEFXKcqP4TdY1VCL2buphp1h/IMG_20170607_164130_LI%20(2).jpg) ![IMG_20170607_164631.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXy28NkCt1L5ktn6tHvZ5kq2w8oLhDRSUGR4dj8g4nfhi/IMG_20170607_164631.jpg) ![IMG_20170607_164642_LI.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmP3z5dupW32Jk2czRNTLmsTywPgiio9tU19gtQWXSC5V8/IMG_20170607_164642_LI.jpg)

Cleaning

The C64 was very dirty, so I started cleaning it. For the case I used a special sponge (Don’t ask me, what it is made of…) to remove the dirt and the marker lines. It worked perfectly!

![IMG_20170604_205029.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXVY6gKLpRg7MgJeiar51RPWtYdXmB7yR5ZZbLikrvDwf/IMG_20170604_205029.jpg)

For the motherboard and the keyboard-frame, I just used an old toothbrush and some rubbing alcohol to clean it. I cleaned the keys by giving them a good wash with soap and water. (Look how dirty the water is, after the first wash!) After five washes, the keys were clean again.

![IMG_20170604_211421.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXj6caFhQQ6q5N7Dg7szLNynW3PbBVN2T8anxQKGMVuDs/IMG_20170604_211421.jpg) ![IMG_20170604_212014.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmcSZ3BFigKXZ1EPaDHxe6r99XjM4ok7VdZaxJqdok3EGM/IMG_20170604_212014.jpg) ![IMG_20170604_212229.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZWa3Z2nY7bRHe3dUv2jHFgen6gcGdmdV8XxhpneToZ59/IMG_20170604_212229.jpg)

The springs, I just brushed of the dust, because water would cause them to rust.

Fixing the yellowed plastics

To fix the yellowed plastics I used a hydrogen-peroxide cream. First, I coated every key and covered it with cling film, so it wouldn’t dry out. I repeated this with the top and the bottom of the case.

![IMG_20170607_161322.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXENkQnMFGDU4KRMXtf6htvQC34LpY9kt2Bo82JaU1tfG/IMG_20170607_161322.jpg) ![IMG_20170607_162032.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTKZRc5N27ogpf6WbnHsjXovWyuFLoVTmyYzZz2C1H3MH/IMG_20170607_162032.jpg)

After I was done coating them, I laid the parts in the sun, because hydrogen-peroxide needs UV-Light to react with the yellowed plastics.

![IMG_20170607_163607.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmeaBBw2S6671ArpNYp9dYrHgp95gXbmzUSa2Zc54xkD2z/IMG_20170607_163607.jpg)

Because the weather was pretty bad, I let them outside the whole day. Normally, it would only take about 1-2 hours on a sunny day. I washed everything and started with the assembly.

Assembly

I started, by putting the shielding and the motherboard back inside the case and screwing it tight. One of the screw-hole-stems broke off, so I glued it back into place.

![IMG_20170608_101127.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmNYDf7fCgKawse6fmEb29STSZcmZgXG6FS33zcTrTGYQR/IMG_20170608_101127.jpg) ![IMG_20170608_102434.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRuEtHhcxjjTM6qRP3kZ892LKLPqDvsHWuC2MELKHUS8j/IMG_20170608_102434.jpg)

I replaced the wrong sized pin and screw the keyboard back together. I plugged the keyboard back into the motherboard and clipped it into the top-half of the case. Before closing the C64 up again, I connected the power LED because the cable of it is very short. Then I was able to just close the case because it doesn’t need any screws.

![IMG_20170608_102729.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmcWvBfpi2628dbykHj8rWNUVdDEyXhjdW5FBiBa9dbLfP/IMG_20170608_102729.jpg) ![IMG_20170608_102931.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPDBJ88tJnZoim3KiozumXbkBryJkzVHwwEEcVTwHnF1W/IMG_20170608_102931.jpg)

I put every spring in its position and started putting the keys back where they belong.

![IMG_20170608_103648.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmdzPLJNNq132cFgmBgqEWzLJAPvfxuw4bjWYU6rzFDjsg/IMG_20170608_103648.jpg) ![IMG_20170608_103131.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTp5ZGt7WYriJ674SMYfVKA1qH9s51zWnzVHKooPJpjMg/IMG_20170608_103131.jpg)

Before and after comparison

![IMG_20170604_175243.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWXEsbk8ktCr4RW1sPxUA3qxuTQh6Wiyg695weE7zJXDR/IMG_20170604_175243.jpg) ![IMG_20170608_105642.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmY5ymg37heCFznpUCzQZAZ3VFi89LQyJt7FQyrezja2Af/IMG_20170608_105642.jpg) ![IMG_20170604_175338.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmekuWnnF4btHF5umLHNmqKRtWxKHNahbkd8848s4dvxjY/IMG_20170604_175338.jpg) ![IMG_20170608_105837.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZ6xVhSStWU9oXYL3BuRtYCwyrwFeu5BKHdxdvZskKaZ7/IMG_20170608_105837.jpg)

I also used a C64 of the same model I got from the same owner to show you the difference, hydrogen-peroxide and the sun makes.

![IMG_20170608_110004.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRVpaaj5EDVGSc3E1LGgENrbxfYd97jgVu5jB1XPPXCCY/IMG_20170608_110004.jpg) ![IMG_20170608_110024.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXz9mvLjF1zfsybcHwkgPjXJU1UynxqWMsSBhvHGXcDjj/IMG_20170608_110024.jpg)

I hope, you liked my project :) I only did this documentation four you guys, the steemit community :)