IBM 5155 analogue display fault

[Tony Duell]

> 
> So,...
> 
> I should take out the wing nuts (and wing bolts) from my machines, and put
> back all of the torx fasteners, etc. ?

Well, I probably would... But then I am rarely near a computer without a 
good toolkit...

> 
> What should I do about the holes that I cut for additional drives,
> ventilation mods, chassis mount Blue Ribbon connections, etc?

I did say something like 'make no unnecessary modifications'. I've 
modified enough machines over the years that if I claimed modifications, 
and hackery vwere a Bad Thing, it would clearly be a lie. And yes, I have 
modified classic computers, even when they were already classic.

But those modifications were useful in that they improved the machine. 
Extra drives, extra connectors, etc sound to be useful. But to replace 
a screw just becasue you can't be bothered to get the right tool is not a 
useful or nexessary modification.

> 
> 
> BTW, I know much less about hardware than Tony knows about software, but
> it doesn't take much knowledge of electronics to repair the physical break
> of the power switch that was common in the second and third round of 63.5?

Ture.... (But if I had a pound for every time a PSU fault was described 
to me as a 'broken on/off switch' I wouldn't be here :-). I am quite sure 
these switches did break, but to many users any time a machine won't 
power up, it must be the switch...)

> BTW2, I do NOT damage fasteners by cutting slots, etc.  The PC came out in
> August 1981.  In September, I bored holes down the middle of torx bits.
> (can't do very many with a cheap drill bit!)

Not if they're decent Torx bits, anyway :-). Nowadays the tamperproof 
Torx bits are quite easy to find, thankfully.

> It really isn't hard to get or make the right tool, if you WANT to keep it
> original.

I mentioned this thread to a friend of mine (who is an excellent hacker 
and his comment was something like "He's working on IBM machines without 
a set of Bristol Spline keys? Ouch!"

-tony