White plastic lugs on 4016 motherboard

[Atomtan]

Hi Folks

I was about to remove the motherboard from my 4016 (for cleaning) when I noticed there are two plastic lugs (approx 1/4 way from the front of the machine) retaining the motherboard to the lower casing. These look like they probably popped into the board and case back in 1982 when it was made, but looking at them now (and from past experience of old cars and plastic clips) I have a feeling they will break/shatter when I try to remove them. Am I being over cautious?

 

[Stone]

Having never looked inside of a Commodore of any type it sounds like what you are describing are plastic ‘standoffs’.

http://intrl.startech.com/Product/Gallery?product_id=15STANDOFF&gallery_index=0

 

[crock]

I was about to remove the motherboard from my 4016 (for cleaning) when I noticed there are two plastic lugs (approx 1/4 way from the front of the machine) retaining the motherboard to the lower casing. These look like they probably popped into the board and case back in 1982 when it was made, but looking at them now (and from past experience of old cars and plastic clips) I have a feeling they will break/shatter when I try to remove them. Am I being over cautious?

Yes, I think so. I've disassembled many and don't recall having any break. As Stone said, you can source replacements. The only work of warning I would make is that be careful if you decide to use metal standoffs or mix up the remaining ones. Some of the holes on the early boards have tracks running very close to the holes that had the plastic standoffs. I once reassembled a PET I'd stripped down only for it to exhibit failed screen ram symptoms. It turned out that the address bus to the v-ram ran very close to a screw hole on the underside of the board. I didn't pay much attention to where I put the metal an plastic standoffs and the result was that I shorted a couple of lines of the address bus to ground!

Rob

 

[Cager]

Not over-cautious, just prudent.
Yes, they will be plastic stand-offs - take a close look at them and you will see a small "arm" that protrudes slightly over the motherboard. Use a pair of needle-nosed pliers to squeeze in this "arm" as you just ease the motherboard up so that the stand-off goes down into the motherboard hole.
You don't need to remove the plastic stand-offs - just lift the motherboard off them & then re-use them when reinstalling the motherboard.