My Macintosh M0110a keyboard cables are in various states and could use some restoration. The winding in one of the cables was pretty bad so I wanted to fix it. The cables also needed a good cleaning. Here's how I went about this as well as my results.
Interestingly, none of the 6 cables for my M0110a keyboards are exactly the same, they have various color/coil diameter. I do think all of them are original from the look of their age.
Here is the one which was the worst.
First get a round stick that's at least 35cm (14in) long and has a diameter such that the cable can easily slide onto the stick. Try your local home center gardening department. For most of my cables I used a diameter of 9mm. One cable used a 7mm stick and another one used a 10mm stick. Wrap the cable snuggly around the stick and attach a rubber band or a headband at the end to keep the cable from uncoiling.
Be sure that the rubber brand is holding the cable very loosely, otherwise the rubber band with make a permanent mark on the cable. In my example below it was too tight!
Once it's on there, give the cable a good cleaning with a rag. After rinsing, put it in to your sink filled with hot water. Boil some water and add the boiling water to the hot water in the sink. You want the water temperature to reach around 80°C. Leave it in the sink for 30 minutes or so. After that take it out and let it sit for several more hours before removing the stick.
Here is the same cable after only two hours...
I'd recommend leaving it inside the stick for a full 24 hours.
Of course this will work with not only the M0110 and M0110a cable, but with any coiled cable you have which you would like to give some extra spring.
Interestingly, none of the 6 cables for my M0110a keyboards are exactly the same, they have various color/coil diameter. I do think all of them are original from the look of their age.
Here is the one which was the worst.
First get a round stick that's at least 35cm (14in) long and has a diameter such that the cable can easily slide onto the stick. Try your local home center gardening department. For most of my cables I used a diameter of 9mm. One cable used a 7mm stick and another one used a 10mm stick. Wrap the cable snuggly around the stick and attach a rubber band or a headband at the end to keep the cable from uncoiling.
Be sure that the rubber brand is holding the cable very loosely, otherwise the rubber band with make a permanent mark on the cable. In my example below it was too tight!
Once it's on there, give the cable a good cleaning with a rag. After rinsing, put it in to your sink filled with hot water. Boil some water and add the boiling water to the hot water in the sink. You want the water temperature to reach around 80°C. Leave it in the sink for 30 minutes or so. After that take it out and let it sit for several more hours before removing the stick.
Here is the same cable after only two hours...
I'd recommend leaving it inside the stick for a full 24 hours.
Of course this will work with not only the M0110 and M0110a cable, but with any coiled cable you have which you would like to give some extra spring.
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