HP-65, ser. no. 1608S 02204

[langdon mcaninch]

While cleaning out my garage, I found a box marked "engineering stuff" which contained a second black and blue box marked HP-65. Much to my suprise, it contained my HP-65 along with the whole anchalada, sales slip and all. It was purchased in June, 1976, and used until 1982 when I replaced it with a HP-16C.

It appears to be in excellent condition, and the battery pack holds a charge (3.96V, unloaded). However, when I try to download a program I feel opposition to the mag card and the card reader motor makes a loud squealing sound likes it needs to be lubricated. Can anyone send me a set of maintenance instructions including the type of lubricant and the lubricating points? Once I correct the problem, I will run a full diagnostic. I think there is a very good possibility that its fully functional.

[Palmer O. Hanson, Jr.]

There is a discussion of the repair of HP-65 and HP-67 card readers at Viktor Toth's site at http://www.rskey.org/hp67reader.htm but I don't see anything which specifically addresses lubrication.

[don wallace]

Check the card path for froeign objects (!)

DW
P.S. Happy to repair item. If interested, write to me:

donwallace63@yahoo.com.au

[Randy]

Chances are actually rather poor that it is fully functional...

Squealing is usually the ball socket at the end of the drive lead screw in need of lubrication. HP typically used a dry graphite lubricant. A drop of penetrating oil on the end of the screw is all that is needed. It could also be a slipping clutch on the drive lead screw.

But - chances are that lubrication is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. You'll most likely find a gooey mess on the magnetic side of the card once it has been through the reader. If so, you'll need to first replace the card reader drive wheel. It is/was originally latex tubing and it has long since decomposed into a gooey mess. It is a legendary problem with HP card readers and has been well documented. It's easy enough to fix, it just takes a bit of electromechanical talent and some persistence.

For your reading pleasure:

http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/articles.cgi?read=179

and

http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/articles.cgi?read=111