SINCLAIR ZX Spectrum +2 NOT playing Games & Faulty Key - EASY FIX

Here we have a 'Tea Break Fix' video on a SINCLAIR 128K ZX SPECTRUM +2 which will not play games and one key is faulty. It is not going to be the most interesting fix in the world but it might bring back some 1980s memories.
Thanks for watching, Vince 👍

[@andrewferguson7762]

Being about the same age it brought a grin to my face, those red and blue lines catapaulted me back to 1983. Thanks for the memories....

[@EmeyeP]

Watching this video brings back good and bad memories. There was nothing more frustrating that fighting your way through multiple levels of your favourite game only for the cassette to fail to load the next ones! Outrun was the worst for it. When our dad finally upgraded the family computer to an Amiga, floppy disks were a revelation. I still have all our old home computers, including our very first ZX81.

[@canarybirb6151]

underrated comment😎✌🏻

[@SonySupporter]

I still don't understand why 8bit computers in UK, Germany and maybe France adopted the compact cassette as 8bit gaming media. They are good for music but for games sucked. Upto 10 minutes for a 8bit game to load!!!!.

[@EmeyeP]

@@SonySupportercheap and universally available. At the time I don’t think there were many other options.

[@bogwhopet1032]

My grandad took me to the computer shop when I was a kid and bought me a zx spectrum...happy memories overload 😃

[@kiphakes]

Love these old machines, such simple things!

[@Mymatevince]

Thanks Kip 👍👍👍

[@carloso5910official]

@@Mymatevince Hey Vince, please do How to Setup the Xbox Series X/S for Beginners.

[@markbailey2731]

The Spectrum 48k was the first computer i ever owned which became an addiction for me to this day. I remember typing codes from a Spectrum magazine which tooks a few hours in order to play a free game. Your video brought me personal joy in seeing the loading sequence. Thank you Vince!

[@blackcountryme]

That sound is one of the memorable... Even though now I use an SD card loader, occasionally I tape load or load from a phone for the sounds

[@AcornElectron]

Must have been a nightmare on that crappy keyboard with one key function inputs. Electron was a piece of piss to knock out basic or assembler because of the awesome keyboard. Hence this revision of the Speccy having a semi useable keyboard.

[@markbailey2731]

@@AcornElectron Indeed it was a nightmare, but being a young man i had a lot of patience.

[@SpeccyMan]

@@AcornElectron Not so much of a nightmare once you got used to it. Still it wasn't very long before I bought a DK'Tronics keyboard which allowed me to install both my Spectrum 48K and my Interface 1 into it. Proper keys made a lot of difference.

[@benjohnston6389]

Ohhh how I miss my old 48k and 128k speccys. Well done vince.

[@mancavehobbies6213]

We need more retro computer fixes

[@mikethemusicman1978]

definitely

[@hoofbags]

Not meaning to cause conflict or argument but isopropyl alcohol should never be used on a pinch roller. John Peel mentioned this in Making 4 Track Music book, my late partner of over 50 years experience said same and I have extensive experience in cassette mechanisms myself. People will continue to do this, regardless but as tape mechanisms aren't made anymore, it will lead to failure, splitting and total loss. John P suggested spit, and some might not like the thought of this, so another suggestion is a solution of dish soap and water, applied with a cloth. I hope I haven't offended anyone, as this isn't my motive. Nice repair advice. 🙂

[@Dataserve57]

I concur with hoofbags - I (DataServe Retro) have serviced 100's of these machines over the years and know from first hand experience that you don't clean the pinch rollers on any cassette mechanism with IPA. Platen cleaner is a solvent special blend for this type of rubber (also used for cleaning high end hifi cassette players and things like photocopier and printer rubber pickup rollers). It also has a second advantage in that it makes the pinch roller surface tacky again so the tape doesn't slip.

[@PhilipBryden]

It was worth watching just to be reminded of the Spectrum loading screen. I spent more time looking at the loading screen than I did playing the games. Spyhunter was a great game too.

[@geoffowen7627]

That game loading part gave me a warm fuzzy feeling, awesome ohhh good times. These young'uns are spoiled with their ssd's and other dark magic these days, Thank you 👍👍👍👍

[@evilmissf]

Omg! That brought back some memories, I had the origina rubber key 16K speccy, saved up my pocket money to buy the chip to update it to 48K, also had that 128k with the tape drive, unfortunately had to sell them when I moved house, wish I never had, the case and thermal printer went with it too 😢 😞 😕 😔

[@gamerX-wk7ct]

I know the feeling the things I've sold through the years sometimes it was worth it and sometimes it wasn't

[@PMCRetroGamer]

Would love to see more 8bit micro computer fixes. This was my favourite video by far

[@colinboneham7387]

That load scream brings back a few happy happy memories

[@RestorationRelaxation]

Quick tip for the spring. I have a video on my channel where I make a spring from scratch using a drill and guitar string. It’s easy and lets you make a spring of any size

[@mrjsv4935]

Massive thumbs up :) Always love to see 80's home computers getting fixed :)

[@kcryptouk8124]

OMG amazing. This was my first computer. Im so grateful of my parents buying me this. Remembered it comes in a long rectangle box cover sleeve that you slide out. My favourite games were Dizzy, and I would go to Woolworths to buy the games!!

[@Dragonmad1963]

OMG!! That sound of the game loading gave me goosebumps! I had the 48K with rubberised keyboard and separate tape loader.

[@davidwhite5631]

Aw the sound ,the screen loading stripes which could trigger a seizure. Memories love it . Great vid vince

[@Leviathan_1992]

I'm hitting the like button on every video to get you back into the algorithm Vince.

[@bluetuscani5607]

I never seen that device before, it belongs in a museum.

[@Old_Man_Pete]

Memories, I had the 48k with rubber keys, that noise just took me back to childhood 👍

[@player07441]

my birthday was a few days ago so i consider this as a blessing in disguise

[@andybrooks7228]

Great vid reminded me of my first home computer ZX Spectrum 128 +2 A got it for XMas around 87-88 ish, hours of fun. I used to get the gaming mags that were available at the time that came with games and demo's, the best game I remember playing on it was called Driller a Sci-Fi game about planting gas rigs on a moon. Thanks for the memory's and please keep up the great content.

[@bdmgm]

The memories. I had this exact machine and it was splendid. Thanks for the video

[@TheGreekWatcher]

Hello Vince! What a great watch collection you have!! Keep up the qood work!!

[@rambledogs2012]

18:54 and the memories come flooding back.

[@Zadkiel343]

You should look into Acetone plastic welding - it would have been much superior here than the superglue, which will undoubtedly fail after under a little stress.

[@QuadMochaMatti]

As someone who has used it in both hobby kit model building, going back to my youth, and in my projects as an Industrial Design major back in my Uni days, I was going to suggest that Vince look into a product like Plastruct Plastic Weld - or an equivalent solvent-based bonding agent, that would actually allow the pieces to actually fuse back together, rather than be held together by an adhesive agent . Sufficient drying time would have to be provided (longer than with CA glue), but as you stated, would be better for these types of applications like screw posts/mounting bosses, etc. Depending upon the type of polymer, Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) also works well (particularly for styrene); it could be applied by either a brush or small hypodermic syringe.

[@SimonEllwood]

Or decent Epoxy

[@mikethedigitaldoctorjarvis]

I had one of those in my teenage years,absolutely loved it ! 😊

[@Pablus96]

I don’t belong to the age of this Spectrum but I got to work with these tapes (one subject of the computer science degree about emulation) and I found it very entertaining. The only thing I miss of being just 25 is having missed this age of computers/consoles. As always both an entertaining and educating video as well Vince 💪🏻

[@bensmith1689]

My first computer was a ZX Spectrum + and later a +2a. They were brilliant. The sheer size of the games catalogue meant there was always some new exciting game for you to try, that you'd never heard of. Damn I need to start a Retro games room...

[@StezStixFix]

SPECtacular! Brought back some fond memories! Thanks Vince 👍

[@corty1980]

Never had a ZX Spectrum and didn't know of anyone else that did, probably not very popular here in Australia compared to the UK. Even so I do enjoy videos where old tech/computers are brought back to life. Currently about 95% through doing an Amiga with a new ReAmiga motherboard, current chip shortages is the only thing that is stopping me from finishing it :(

[@Falconurbex]

wow tje spectram i use to have 1 of these with games, i left it in the attick when i moved out of my house over 15 years ago, i keep telling myself to go back to my old house and ask them if its there, but they will probs say they either havent been in the attick or they have thrown it out, but they will have kept it as i believe they are worth something now, thanks for the video this has braught back some good memmeries.

[@miro_trendafilov]

New vid! Awesome! Hi Vince! Love to see you working on a ZX Spectrim, a very British system.

[@markbennett3400]

Great vid Vince, it brought back so many happy memories of those long wait to load days.

[@roytom2054]

Brill fix. These computers were wonderful in their day.

[@chezsnailez]

Whatta neat little machine! All we had back in the day was a boogity 16K TRS-80 Color Computer. Never got any games for it and maybe tried some programming for a few months. Thing sat in the closet for the rest of its days at La Casa Caracol. Sometime in the mid-'90s we got hold of a Commodore 64 setup. Fun times...

[@FootNinja88]

Brilliant Brought back a lot of memories for me thanks ,I had The 48K and the 128K. version of the spectrum. I remember loading the game & it used to crash right at the end.

[@stevemitson8498]

Excellent video great repair. I am an A+ computer tech and this video was top notch! And yes a lot of memories!

[@leighsmith2361]

I had one of these when I was a kid, loved it, and the bruce lee game, and those ear-bleeding loading screens, are good old memories hey, love your videos Vince.

[@ViralViewsUk]

Brought back some happy memories mate all started with the zx81 then zx spectrum with the rubber keys, had the external ram plus a thermal printer Jet set willy was my favourite 😊 Nice one mate 👍 Ps love your videos

[@PaddyPatPatrick]

If I remember correctly this is my first computer and the funny thing is I still have it and a bunch of cassette tapes 😀

[@davidayres7973]

That takes me back. First ever computer I had was one of those in the very early 90s

[@mark-andrews]

Great video, used to spend hours playing ZX Spectrum games back in the day, Bruce Lee, is a good game.

[@scottls]

I don't have any fond memories of computers back when I was young (back in the 70s and early 80s everything we had over here in the States was too expensive) but, yeah, I can imagine I would have been really geeking out with something like this. Instead, I was fixing lamps, then radios, then TVs that were all tossed in the garbage before I got to them.

[@emilyslifewithautism6499]

awesome video Vince always like listening to them

[@Devilboy-6666]

Another great video mate 👍 Love the new outro song 🎵 lol

[@neonteepee8453]

Big smiles here. You must have the only Spectrum in the world that doesn't need an azimuth angle tweak to load a tape

[@daz41262010]

wow such an easy fix and so great to see the spectrum back to life I used to play a game called Dizzy :) and also manic miner not to mention jet set willy lol :)

[@ArreglandoCosas]

Excelente video Vince!

[@willrobinson7599]

Great video.i had a chuckle when u said that the sticky tape might be original ,I know late 80's ,early nineties standards could be low but surely they wouldn't use sticky tape like that lol

[@JessicaRyan7of9]

I had one of them when I was a kid. Nice fix.

[@onasazi]

Oh really nice fixing there! Didn’t know you can buy assortments of springs! 😂

[@markvandesande8855]

Wow wow wow i had spectrum +2 back in 2005 i loved it. But now my mate Vince has a jingle. It reminds me of old thames television themes like Rainbow wow still my favourite tune from the eighties. 😁

[@kennethbarker852]

1st class video to watch thank you take care kind regards from me kenneth🙂

[@marktasker9581]

Had this system...the memories 😁

[@mrhairypalm5006]

Brings back some memories 👍🏻

[@TomMannCenturia]

I love the Speccy. You've still got it with Bruce Lee!

[@jamesdye4603]

I can honestly say that you have the curiosity and instincts to make you a splendid auto repair technician. I have worked with the best and the worst in my profession, and I think you would be among the best.

[@burnleytraveller4556]

I used to love my Spectrum. I had all the Dizzy games, they were my favourite.

[@kareno8634]

*LOL You are a Trip!* Another Life SAVED _and_ History Continues.

[@AnonymousRepair]

Nice one, One thing to do using Qbond is to rough up the plastic where you are going to apply the powder it gives it more surface area to grip on to, great video 👍👍👍👍👍

[@Mymatevince]

Oh yes, I think you might have mentioned that to me before. I'll remember for next time. I did remember the little hole in the lid this time though 😂 👍👍

[@stevetealey2804]

well done vince great job.

[@AC_Milan1899]

Loved the +2 great memories. All those pirate games on D90s

[@dannyhtheretrogamingmaster9548]

I remember the good old spectrum from back in the day and using the keyboard or joystick to play the tape games. Good repair job there.

[@Mymatevince]

Thanks Danny, I think this might have been the one I got of you some years back. I couldn't find the listing on eBay since so much time has passed. I still need to look at your job lot of Wii's as well 😂. That was probably a couple of years ago by now. Hope you're keeping well 👍👍👍

[@krisbagnall3683]

Well done buddy. I would of been so dissapointed if you hadnt loaded up and played bruce lee!!!! Ah the days of waiting for the tapes to load only to come back 10 mins later to find an error and have to do it all again.....after rewinding hahaha

[@BlackGymkhana]

If case plastic is ABS you can use acetone to weld pieces together. The joint will be strong as it originally was.

[@CORNISHMANUK]

My Mate Vince gaming channel??? Love the vid I remember mine and I'm currently repairing a 16k and upgrading too to 48k. Wish me luck

[@llewellyn56]

awesome. great video. my system still works. have the same game. love it

[@retrogamer33]

Recently got rid of my retro collection including 3 48K, 3 Spectrum+, +2 and a +2a but I did keep my ZX Spectrum Next. I ain't selling that beauty.

[@pyjama9556]

Hi Vince, been watching you’re channel and subbed, can’t believe how many things you’re able to fix!! Odd one here I have a PlayStation 2 train controller that is isn’t responding. I’ve gone online and seen some info but I’m unable to fault find this myself 😞 Is this something you might be interested in?

[@Tim_3100]

Nice video vince!

[@gingerhippygaming7962]

Nice to see a zx spectrum being saved

[@gjnieuwenhuis2440]

Really good memories of my 48k with rubber keyboard playing Manic Miner against my brother

[@jimlondon1]

God, me and my sister had a +2. We had loads of games. My favourite was VAMPIRE. bloody difficult but addictive.

[@wisher21uk]

Love it mate thanks it sounded like the old dial up lol

[@GadgetUK164]

Lovely job Vince =D

[@Mymatevince]

Thanks Chris 👍

[@leonmcrae3460]

Simpler times. Great memories

[@dodgydruid]

The tape inside is likely assembly tape used on the assembly line to keep it all in place where the lady with the zzz zzz gun would whizz in the screws, nearly all the Spectrum plus and my Amstrad CPC's had that tape in from new and the tape on yours looks about as old as the machine is. BTW got a cracking watch vid coming, 1980's Pulsar solar, absolutely immaculate with its original box, all papers and manuals and this was the watch that kickstarted Seiko in marrying a quality Seiko quartz movement with a solar panel and capacitor defining the modern "eco-drive" watches of today. Just waiting on the new capacitor cell to arrive as the original one holds about 2 secs of power.

[@lonesuk]

the video brought me back i did kick starter for spectrum next 2

[@Jaklas1979]

Great Video Vince but.....You're Fired

[@michaleus]

You couldn't see the motherboard and its circuitry at all in the video, which is a shame. Otherwise, great content creation on KZbin Vinci.

[@thebincleaner]

Wow....I love my retro stuff...this was great to watch and Bruce LEE WAS ALSO A FAVE OF MINE ON THE 48K How mad is it that today you can fit 2.7 million 48k's on a 128gb micro SD card

[@jamiemason9548]

Hi good job all done 👍

[@Retro_andy_1977]

Date code 60730 Could be 30th July 1986?one of the Sinclairs built by Amstrad after they bought Sinclair out but obviously still used the Sinclair name Enjoyed the video again Vince

[@gamerX-wk7ct]

Vince if you read this what brand soldering and heat gun do you use . and good video I always enjoy watching your content 😊

[@whiterspon573]

thanks man so much for these memories :D on childhood pc game playing :D but i have another ZX Spectrum Type Only Keyboard :D

[@Parknest]

I started off with a rubber key 48K Spectrum. The one you had Vince was the Spectrum+ which had the QL-style case and keyboard but was still a 48K Spectrum under the skin with the addition of a reset button. I have a +2A myself which I featured on my own channel. Unfortunately, the RF modulator is broken. I should've got my late uncle to fix it before his passing. He knew his way round the Spectrum. These days, I get my Speccy fix with an emulator.

[@SpeccyMan]

If the modulator has failed you could just do the composite video modification. It's not that difficult and there are plenty of videos showing you how to do it.

[@Parknest]

Yes, I'm aware of the composite video mod that can be done. I think the connector itself is damaged. I'll have to dig it out of the loft. It has never been 100% since I bought it in 1995.

[@steveyates9144]

OMG !!! I had the 48k rubber key and upgraded to this one, +2 😂 Manic Miner was my goto game. I learned how to code on this and the Commodore 64.

[@brendonelton]

I love watching a speccy being repaired & dragged back into life agian!

[@colinboneham7387]

I used to have a ZX80 & 81 till I upgraded to Spectrum +3 128k with a disc drive. I love the game technician ted & the chip factory & a few other.

[@qualisarphate681]

Omg, you found the lost signed copy of the 128k spectrum, and that's Lord sugar to you. Lol! Still that model still sold better than Alan's flagship product the Amstrad videophone, so prestigious it still on his desk on apprentice. :p

[@darren990]

makes you feel really old when you can remember tapes and the troubles of them lol

[@JoystickDivision]

I can't remember who I got this trick from, but to fix screw posts back into place, I use acetone. I get a little bit on the end of a cotton buds, wipe it lightly on the problem area and press the posts on. The acetone should fuse it back together and in my experience it's a really strong join. Some say it's as strong as when it was new.

[@TheSkaldenmettrunk]

Never seen such a thing. Probably to young I guess. Still pretty interesting to see it and even not just from the outside.

[@curbyi76]

Nostalgic Gold thank you

[@johnboy4809]

Hi Vince, great repair, still have my old amstrad and amiga that I want to try and get working at some point. Just seen a job lot of broken Raspberry Pis and ebay, wandered if thats something youve though about looking at

[@retrocomputerskarachi6158]

Greetings from Karachi, Pakistan.

[@DEmma1972]

Massive thumbs. Still want to see a rubber spectrum fixed lol. They do have a new rubber spectrum out now with USB slots and stuff. Could be interesting seeing the differences.

[@abdulhkeem.alhadhrami]

"Super Glue loves my fingers" that is so true for me too.

[@omegamark4155]

You can use a coffeemaker filter and some IPA to wife off the keyboard contacts. These filters are useful, as they do not create little paper particles left on a surface (if used gently). They are also useful when wiping off a thermal paste from a CPU or similar. Most of all, these coffee filters are cheap :).

[@kareno8634]

Thanks! usually when Finally, (Years later) getting more, i say, 'another lifetime supply'.

[@spamspace6878]

Or use a microfiber towel