Pushing My Buttons

Last spring I got hooked on watching YouTube videos like "Let's Repair eBay Junk." These guys were buying and unboxing faulty electronics in the hopes of finding an easy fix and flipping the items. They also explained how they performed the repair.

I was envious, and I wanted to try that myself. I visited the same Japan4You Store on eBay that many had mentioned, and I decided to buy one thing. I chose a Bandi Wonder Swan Color console. I already have a few GameBoys in my collection, but I hadn't played a Wonder Swan before.

The listing stated that the unit would work. The problem was that the power button wasn't functioning properly. My guess was that the contacts were just dirty.

The shipping from Japan was cheap, but the package took three weeks to arrive. When the Wonder Swan did get here, I popped in a fresh battery to test it. The unit turned on after pressing the power button ten times, but it wouldn't turn off. I had to pull out the battery to cut the power. I put it on a shelf in the basement, and I forgot about it. After three weeks, I had lost my stride with this project.

Well, forgot isn't the right word. Every so often I'd catch the Wonder Swan looking at me in the eye, and I quickly look away in guilt.

"Stop looking at me, Swan!" - name that movie.

Last month I decided to give this fix a shot. I opened the Swan with a tri-tip screwdriver, and removed the rubber strip of buttons on the bottom.

I cleaned the contacts with isopropyl alcohol, and reassembled it. Nope. That was worse. It would not turn on no matter how many times I pressed the power button.

I did some research and found out that the lower buttons on these units often lose their conductive layers with age. When I cleaned it with alcohol, I probably wiped off what was left of the original layer. No wonder the Wonder didn't work.

A kid on YouTube fixed his button by gluing a strip of tin foil to the bottom, but that hack seemed too sketchy. I bought this stuff from Amazon instead.

This fix cost 45 cents more that the Wonder Swan itself, but there is enough Keypad-Fix to repair 197 more buttons. I bet this will come in handy for a guy who likes vintage electronics. 

You really have to stir this goop first. 

I cleaned the other two buttons with isopropyl alcohol first, then I applied a thin layer to each one. I used a clothespin to keep the buttons level. 

Many of the reviewers on Amazon said that they cured the "paint" by placing the button under a light bulb for an hour or so. 

After waiting for an hour, I impatiently installed buttons, but they didn't work. I only smeared the "paint." Then it was time to try again, and this time I'd have to follow the instructions and wait until morning for reassembly.

In the morning it worked! The Wonder Swan now successfully turns on and off with one light press of a finger. 

Since I was in a good mood, I used Novus 2 and 1 to buff out some of the scratches and to polish the screen. I didn't take a before photo, but I can tell you that it was scuffed up.

That looks better.

This is the only game I have for the system. Luckily, the Klonoa games are pretty fun.

Now when the Wonder Swan looks at me, I grin and say, "I am the smartest man alive!"

(I still can't read Japanese, though.)

I Got Zero for Halloween

Like my neighbors, you might ask, "What's a guy your age doing on a skateboard?" The answer would be, "Having fun with my kid."

I bought this Zero skateboard last weekend from shopgoodwill.com.

I touched up the scratched black paint after cleaning the bottom of the deck. Black paint is easier to match than red or white. If you're not doing a full restoration, you can make a big difference by touching up just one color. The deck doesn't look new, but it does look better.

I pulled off the old grip tape with the help of my hairdryer.

The new Santa Cruz grip tape nicely suits the upcoming holiday. 

I liked the skulls, but the original Zero wheels were too beat up to appreciate the artwork.

I replaced them with Sector 9 wheels that look just as bad, but they're bigger in diameter and will hopefully keep me from planting my face into the boulevard.

But honestly, you don't have to actually ride a skateboard in order to play with it.

Getting a Grip (Tape)

Skateboard Update:

I haven't applied grip tape to a skateboard before, so I thought I'd practice on my beater board before I tried to regrip the Sector 9 deck. 

I decided to apply tape that had a design on it rather than just standard black. Finding grip tape with an appropriate image proved difficult. Many of the designs feature drugs, women's bodies, and/or profanity. I understand I'm not in the target audience for skating accessories. No skateboard designer ever slapped their pen on the table said, "There! This should appeal to a middle aged man in the Midwest!"

I picked a skull image since Halloween is coming. I'm not sure if the skull is a reference to something else, but Charlotte thinks it looks cool. That's good enough for me.

I watched several sketchy YouTube videos about applying grip tape. I finally decided to follow this guy's advice ---> Link. He seemed trustworthy, and his teeth are very white. 

The clear grip tape mutes the Sector 9 logo, but the tape will keep Charlotte from sliding off the deck when she rides it. I suppose that's more important...

I'm using the larger wheels that were on Char's short-longboard. They should work for now.

The Sector 9 board has come a long way since it left Davis, California (don't eat the sugar cookies when you visit ---> link.) I'm pleased with how the skateboard came out, and I'm glad I took a chance on it.

Mini update -10/29/18: I scored some different Sector Nine wheels for a reasonable price on eBay. I really like the ride and look. I think this project is done.

Losing My Grip (Tape)

I’ll share a skateboard story in honor of this morning's groundbreaking of the $3.5 million Lauridsen Skatepark in downtown Des Moines. 

This has to be one of the wettest Octobers that I can remember. But when the sidewalks are actually dry, Char and I have been having fun with our skateboards.

Not one to leave things alone, I've been updating our short-longboards with used parts found on eBay. We both got a "new" set of longboard wheels from this package deal.

I also bought these Randal longboard trucks for my board.

I spotted this Sector 9 longboard while searching for "used longboard trucks." These pictures were taken from the seller's eBay listing.

This small section of exposed wood made me suspect that there might be a nice skateboard lurking underneath the filthy grip tape. I started to smell a project.

The bottom of the deck didn't have too much road rash.

Those smudges appear to be paint that could be cleaned off.

The Gull Wing Sidewinder trucks tipped the scales. They were worth the money even if the deck was a bust. I made an offer that was $10 lower than the asking price, and it was accepted. The longboard arrived from California on Saturday, and I got right to work.

The grimy grip tape slowly peeled off after heating it in sections with a hair dryer. Yes, I have a hair dryer in my garage. Doesn't everyone? I then had to remove all the adhesive left on the board. It was a sticky mess. Time to get the Goo Gone.

I'd like to say that the glue came off with a quick wipe, but that wasn't the case. It took over an hour to get the goo gone. But it was worth all that elbow grease.

A Magic Eraser pad dipped in isopropyl alcohol removed a lot of junk from the bottom and sides of the deck. You have use a light touch when using the magic eraser. You can remove the artwork if you press too hard or work in one area too long.  

It's not perfect, but the bottom does look nicer.

I smoothed out some of the pavement scratches on the trucks' hangers with 400 grit sandpaper and metal polish. That wasn't necessary, but I already had the sandpaper and polish, so why not? My labor is free. I also swapped the original wheels with the ones I just replaced on my other skateboard. 

Before:

After:

There is quite a contast between the old grip tape and the cleaned deck.

The board is now too slick for Char to ride as it is. She would slide right off while going around a corner. I have some new, clear grip tape arriving in the mail today, so I will see how that goes.

Projects like this are so much fun.

New Project! ('What to Do, What to Do?" Update)

June Update:

I finally got around to working on the Suburban. The previous owner had installed a front basket, but it wasn't correctly aligned, and it had wedged the front fender down against the front tire. That's why the front tire wouldn't turn. Removing the basket removed the pressure, and we were rolling again.

With the basket out of the way, I could flip the bracket that held the headlight and reposition the light to be out in front. The lamp didn't work, but a new bulb from eBay fixed that. I also bought a vintage-looking bike bell on eBay.

I really like the light generator unit. You flip a tab, the generator slaps against the tire, and "Aziz, light!" Not only is it environmentally friendly, the generator's chrome looks cool, too.

I could make it work if I wanted to have both the basket and the headlight. But for now, I'm digging this look. I removed the TV screen-sized front reflector for aesthetics.

To my surprise, the bike is mechanically sound. I really didn't have to adjust or replace much. Even the flat tires were in good shape; they just needed air. So, most of my elbow grease was spent making the Suburban pretty again.

As I hoped, the surface rust wasn't too hard to remove, and the frame's paint is in really nice shape for being almost 40 years old. I was going to use a newer saddle, but the original seat just suits this bike's old school charm.

I took the bike on a test run last night, and I was amazed at how well it rode. I could shift gears with ease, and the lights have a warm, non-LED glow. The bike is so quiet, it reminded me of a cat's purr. This is a nice piece of vintage machinery.

To sell, or not to sell, that is the question. The bike's frame is too small for Daphne, and it is too big for Charlotte right now. I have no idea if Char will be into vintage stuff when she's old enough to ride this bike. I don't want to work my way around the Suburban in the garage for the next few years only to be told it's lame and that she rather have some new piece of junk. ("new piece of junk" - I'm very slowly making my way into crabby grandpa territory...)

I thought I'd go to the source. I took Char out to the garage and asked her if she thought she'd like to have this bike in a few years. She said, "Yes! I want that... Wait! If you sell it, can I have the money?"

Nope, my little capitalist is not a help, either.

What do you do with something you really like, but you can't use? Maybe I'll put it on Craigslist, and hope that no one will want it...

January '18:

I don't know what I was exactly doing at the time, but I remember thinking last week, "I wish I had a new bike project. I miss working on bicycles."

Goodwill fulfilled that wish last night. I spotted a complete, but neglected 1979 Schwinn Suburban that I couldn't walk away from. It was a daddy-daughter night, so once I had it home I only had time to fill the tires with air so the bike was easier to move. The front tire was stuck, though.

I haven't measured it yet, but this ten speed looks like it has the diminutive 17" frame. If you were trying to find a vintage steed this small, you could have a hard time. This bike sports standard 27" rims despite its petite size. New tires and tubes should be easy to find.

The basket is a nice touch, but it might be too big.

The camera's flash belies the amount of dirt and grime, but that's an easy fix. Also, steel wool will remove the light surface rust on the chrome. I'm looking forward to washing and waxing that frosty blue paint.

The original Schwinn saddle will probably have to go. It's heavier than it is comfortable. Surprisingly, the generator and the rear light both work. I'll store them for a future project.

The same goes for the "Up Periscope!" headlight. 

I refurbished a project bike like this three years ago. That was a good time, and I sold the bike to someone who really wanted it. I'm curious to see how this one comes out.