John's Classic Restoration Thread

[Johnnya101]

Just got this from TechEdison the other day. Have been wanting a Classic for a while now. Will probably sell the SE that I was going to restore to fund this restoration instead.

This is the most yellowed compact I have ever laid my eyes on. How is it even possible to get this yellowed? The photos show it as a light beige. It is not. Its like a rotting banana almost. Its bad. Splotches of white all over. Baaaaaaad.

Not a sign of burn in AT ALL. Thats pretty amazing considering it is a lowly Classic. Tested it last night, 4MB ram but no sound . True survivor with original caps. Got to get those replaced. (Still havent found anyone to replace them yet... Anyone want to give this Classic a recap? ). The video was stable and bright, so I am not going to recap the analog board just yet, Ill wait and see what happens. Took the back off. Logic board has the caps just starting to leak. Its the cleanest compact Ive seen on the inside.

Classics dont tend to get the love they deserve. Hard to believe this was just (Without the ram expansion of course) under $1000.

First thing I have to do is find someone to recap the LB. Once that is sent out, I will retrobrite the case. It is baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad. Think i will try to find one of those huge seal-able clear bags and use that, but if not, Ill just brush it on. The front emblem is kind of faded, I dont mind it much besides the fact red is pink. Think Ill try and touch it up with a red marker? Ill clean and service the floppy drive, etc. Looks like a nice candidate for restoration. You dont see restored Classics that work too often.

 

[Johnnya101]

Its take apart time

Lets start.

First, get a Classic. These steps probably apply to the Classic II as well.

Open it up

Discharge the CRT

Remove memory card (If you have one)

Unplug hard drive cables

Unplug logic board cable (FINALLY Apple engineers realized the stupid setup in the earlier ones where it is buried inside. This one is easy to reach)

Pull logic board out a little

Disconnect floppy cable

Pull out logic board fully.

Unscrew the two analog board screws

Take note on how video board is installed

Remove ground lug screw

Remove video board (Sorry, no photo :/ )

Unplug both connectors.

Remove CRT screws

Remove chassis screws (There are 4)

Remove hard drive because you didnt notice that one of the chassis screws is hidden underneath.

Unscrew the last chassis screw

And its done

Pop out the Apple logo if you are retrobriting (Which I am)

 

[Johnnya101]

Heres a more accurate comparison of the color of the Classic and my slightly yellowed SE/30. It still is darker in real life than it looks here.

 

[SE30_Neal]

The classic may not be a great mac but it was the prettiest compact mac and the most iconic in appearance

 

[Johnnya101]

I agree. Really, when you think about it, it's just a slightly faster Plus or SE with a hard drive and updated everything. For everything people use compacts for today, they are more than adequate. Besides the logic board caps always leaking, I can't seem to see why they are hated on. Oh, and I guess the capped expansion capabilities. But for most people, that's not an issue.

 

[SE30_Neal]

I agree with you, if anything they’re probably the best compact for nostalgia classic mac-ing its got a hhd, 1.44mb floppy, MacOS7.1 in rom and cheap to buy, making it easier to setup and just use than any other compact. If you dont want to mod your mac it makes perfect sense. I think the reason its disliked is because of what it signifies about apple at the time. I mean from the highes of the SE/30 and IIfx’s to some underwhelming yet over priced macs that followed as apple was losing its way. The classic was made so apple had a sub $1000 machine for schools and families to compete with cheap pc clones, yes it was a re hash of a 6 year old design in a new shell but that doesn’t mean it was bad. For me i love pimping my machines so SE/30 for me but over a 512, plus or an early SE with no hdd and 800k drives I’d go Classic especially as it is the best looking.

 

[Johnnya101]

Yup. Couldn't agree more. I don't know what it is with the SE design, but it just does nothing for me. Plus and earlier, yeah they look great, the classics look amazing, but SE just looks... Weird. Just too boxy I guess.

 

[SE30_Neal]

Are you retro brighting it Jonny? Apologies just saw you are after reading your post properly. It deserves it 

 

[Johnnya101]

Yup, doing that now. Its outside on some newspaper with brushed on cream. Ive been moving it around every 20 minutes and spraying water on it. I see loads of little bubbles so I know its working. Ill post a day 1 photo later.

 

[SE30_Neal]

It works a treat, i know mine had yellowed a lot and couldn’t believe the outcome.  Yes please post when done  

 

[TechEdison]

Glad that thing is getting retrobrite. I agree it was quite intensely yellow. Would you believe me if I said my Plus was worse :lol:

im surprised at how much dust accumulated. I cleaned that thing inside quite extensively (with a dry toothbrush and damp paper towel). 

My partial disassembly can be seen here: 


the 68k also happens to be my profile pic. 

 

[Johnnya101]

I'll wash it off within the next hour and see how it did for today  and will post results. Definitely got the nasty yellowing out, appears to be a beige now.

I'll mask the emblem and go over the faded red with a sharpie.

 

[SE30_Neal]

It may need 2 attempts to get it back, mine did but I believe you’re weather is better in us that here in the uk which helps when doing retro brite

 

[Johnnya101]

It will need a lot more than that, lol. Its orange almost. I was only able to have it out from 2-5 today, which isnt a whole long time. Ill try and get it out a few hours a day.

 

[SE30_Neal]

Haha yes I thought it would need more, looks like its in great shape bar the colour so i think you got a good one

 

[Johnnya101]

Well... It certainly looks better... You can tell what was facing the sun. Some streaking on the top. Exactly where my SE/30 has it. :/ Still a lot more deyellowing to do, so it should go away. Definitely doesn't look bleached. Cant get a better photo because this room has no lighting except for one small lamp. Plus, its dark out. Not much to see except the color difference.

 

[TechEdison]

WOAH! Already a massive improvement. Keep it up!

 

[SE30_Neal]

Thats defo an improvement 

 

[LaPorta]

Very nicely done. I have yet to experiment with Retrobrighting. Excellent take-apart pictures, i must say. It's been a while since I was inside a Classic.