IBM 5155 keyboard cable... very oily

[spaghetticode]

Hi, the keyboard cable of my 5155 portable computer keeps exudating some oily substance.

I wonder if there's any cure for it, if it's a known issue, and if I should start looking for (or building) a replacement. As far as now it works properly, but there's no way I can touch the cable and avoid washing my hands, it's rather annoying.

I have other IBM keyboards, model F from PCs and XTs, and I never noticed any issue with them.

 

[Chuck(G)]

The jacket is de-polymerizing. About the best you can do is wipe it down with IPA to remove the oil and cross your fingers that the jacket doesn't completely deteriorate.

 

[Kanpai]

I noticed the same oily substance on the cable of one of mine 5155. According to mass spectra analysis I conducted, this is likely bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate or DEHA:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bis(2-ethylhexyl)_adipate
DEHA seems to be less toxic compared to other plasticizer used in PVC. However, there might be other substances in the oil I could not see due to a low sample size.

 

[cchhrriiss11]

This might sound really bizarre, but when cleaning cords, I've had good luck with WD40! I tried it on a hunch and it works great, especially on the "rubbery" cords. It's also great for removing sticker residue or any other type of "Goo". Maybe try it on a short inconspicuous section of the cord and see if that helps?

 

[Chuck(G)]

Regardless of whatever solvent you use on the effervescing plasticizer, the vinyl jacket is breaking down and will eventually start disintegrating. I imagine that mineral spirits will work just as well.

 

[DDS]

I have 3 IBM Type F keyboards in my "to do" pile. One of the keyboards has a very sticky coiled cable. The other two are fine, so far. AFAIK, they have all been kept/stored in similar conditions. Given my experience with the infamous "green goo" problem known to anyone who ever worked in a #1ESS/#1AESS environment, the deterioration of these polymers is likely confined to certain production batches and/or plants. Further, once the polymer starts deteriorating, the process continues until it all turns to goo.