23-11-2014, 10:01 PM
A transition machine this one, the last of the Sinclair machines but badged Amstrad. The +2 Grey model is in fact an enhanced version of the 128k "Toast Rack" model, the major change being integration of the tape recorder and modification of the BIOS to remove the tape checking function. Whereas the 128k model was the last of the pure Sinclair machines, the +2 outwardly is of Amstrad linage but the inside is Sinclair. These +2 Greys were eventually replaced by the Black models and a complete motherboard change with a lean towards VLSI rather than the up to then traditional separate chip approach.
This particular model had had a hard life in so much that the case was rotten dirty and one of the rubber bung feet was missing (still having trouble sourcing spare bungs) from the bottom. The keyboard was sticky, nasty sticky, where labels had been stuck over the keys for game play. Powering up the computer revealed a clean boot but of note the cursor keys were dead. Might be just game play fatigue, or might be membrane failure, a strip down was needed just for the dirt.
Quick look at the PSU, usual thirty year old caps that needed replacing and a plug rewire as somebody didn't know how to do it right. No surprises, but my luck isn't going to last.
Cleaning out the case, the usual fluff, dirt and grit. Inspection of the tape drive revealed the drive belts were intact but had worn a kink from lack of use so a new set was ordered off the net for £2.99 and fitted with relative ease on arrival. Of note, the +2 Greys use a different player mechanism to that fitted to the +2 Blacks, one less belt in the latter and of different size.
Stripping out they keyboard revealed the presence of tea, with milk and thankfully no sugar, a glancing spill but enough to cause aggro and probably condemn the computer. All the key heads were removed, springs lifted and the plain key left to soak overnight in a bowl of water and Vax carpet cleaner, a mix that I have found brings the plastic back to life. Another notable, the plastic used in Sinclair computers is of better quality compared to that in Dragons, BBCs, Amstrads in that it doesn't stain with age and cleans up very well with minimal scrubbing. maybe Clive got something right after all. The keyboard matrix's, there are two of them with membrane edge connectors sandwiched beneath two screw clamps, were dirty so after a basic clean up the edge conns were cleaned with a Q tip soaked in alcohol which lifted much dirt. Other than that I couldn't fault the keyboard membrane in any way and compared to some machines I have seen over the years this one was in good condition.
The motherboard required a basic clean, a quick check to see if all socketed chips were seated correctly, and was then put to one side while the plastic case was stripped of innards and scrubbed in the sink with Vax cleaner and hot water. A dirt scum ring proved right, just plain dirt.
Reassembly was a pleasure. The motherboard is held in by six screws and slotted right in first time. The keyboard took an hour to put together as there are two springs per key, not including the biggies like the space, shift etc. that have an extra drive rod on the rear. The matrix was laid back in to place, on with the rear protective metal panel and final fitment of the clamps. It was during fitment of the tape drive that I found a poor crimp on the edge connector, the wire came right out so a minute with the crimping tool cured that one. The lid goes on in a horizontal movement, right to left, as the control board of the tape drive tucks under the heat sink plus you are trying to get the tails of the keyboard inserted. A quick tip, if the keyboard tails are loose and poor contact in their sockets, a cut strip of 10 thou plasticard pushed down the back of the tail usually restored operation.
Power up and rewarded with the Amstrad copyright, the cursor keys work a treat and a nice clean UHF signal to the television. Tape drive works with no lumping so in with a tape and ten minutes later we are playing a 1982 classic, Timegate.
This particular model had had a hard life in so much that the case was rotten dirty and one of the rubber bung feet was missing (still having trouble sourcing spare bungs) from the bottom. The keyboard was sticky, nasty sticky, where labels had been stuck over the keys for game play. Powering up the computer revealed a clean boot but of note the cursor keys were dead. Might be just game play fatigue, or might be membrane failure, a strip down was needed just for the dirt.
Quick look at the PSU, usual thirty year old caps that needed replacing and a plug rewire as somebody didn't know how to do it right. No surprises, but my luck isn't going to last.
Cleaning out the case, the usual fluff, dirt and grit. Inspection of the tape drive revealed the drive belts were intact but had worn a kink from lack of use so a new set was ordered off the net for £2.99 and fitted with relative ease on arrival. Of note, the +2 Greys use a different player mechanism to that fitted to the +2 Blacks, one less belt in the latter and of different size.
Stripping out they keyboard revealed the presence of tea, with milk and thankfully no sugar, a glancing spill but enough to cause aggro and probably condemn the computer. All the key heads were removed, springs lifted and the plain key left to soak overnight in a bowl of water and Vax carpet cleaner, a mix that I have found brings the plastic back to life. Another notable, the plastic used in Sinclair computers is of better quality compared to that in Dragons, BBCs, Amstrads in that it doesn't stain with age and cleans up very well with minimal scrubbing. maybe Clive got something right after all. The keyboard matrix's, there are two of them with membrane edge connectors sandwiched beneath two screw clamps, were dirty so after a basic clean up the edge conns were cleaned with a Q tip soaked in alcohol which lifted much dirt. Other than that I couldn't fault the keyboard membrane in any way and compared to some machines I have seen over the years this one was in good condition.
The motherboard required a basic clean, a quick check to see if all socketed chips were seated correctly, and was then put to one side while the plastic case was stripped of innards and scrubbed in the sink with Vax cleaner and hot water. A dirt scum ring proved right, just plain dirt.
Reassembly was a pleasure. The motherboard is held in by six screws and slotted right in first time. The keyboard took an hour to put together as there are two springs per key, not including the biggies like the space, shift etc. that have an extra drive rod on the rear. The matrix was laid back in to place, on with the rear protective metal panel and final fitment of the clamps. It was during fitment of the tape drive that I found a poor crimp on the edge connector, the wire came right out so a minute with the crimping tool cured that one. The lid goes on in a horizontal movement, right to left, as the control board of the tape drive tucks under the heat sink plus you are trying to get the tails of the keyboard inserted. A quick tip, if the keyboard tails are loose and poor contact in their sockets, a cut strip of 10 thou plasticard pushed down the back of the tail usually restored operation.
Power up and rewarded with the Amstrad copyright, the cursor keys work a treat and a nice clean UHF signal to the television. Tape drive works with no lumping so in with a tape and ten minutes later we are playing a 1982 classic, Timegate.
