Original Sun Remarketing Apple II Parts
We carry original Apple II expansion cards, interface cards, disk drives, cables, and more from our warehouse stock.
Sun Remarketing & the Apple II
The Apple II was the foundation of Sun Remarketing's business. We were one of the largest Apple II resellers and parts suppliers through the 1980s and into the 1990s, keeping these machines running in schools, businesses, and homes across the country. We still carry original Apple II expansion cards, drives, and components in our inventory.
In This Guide
Know Your Model
The Apple II family spans 16 years and several distinct models. Each has its own quirks, but they share a common architecture that makes repair knowledge transferable across the line.
Apple II / II+
1977–1982
The original. Open architecture with 8 expansion slots. The II+ added Applesoft BASIC in ROM. Common issues: power supply failures, corroded chip sockets, failing RAM chips.
Apple IIe
1983–1993
The most popular Apple II. Ran for 11 years. Enhanced version added 80-column text and double hi-res graphics. Common issues: failing capacitors, keyboard encoder problems, bad RAM.
Apple IIc
1984–1988
Compact, portable design with built-in floppy drive. No expansion slots. Common issues: power adapter failures (external brick), floppy drive belt deterioration, display connector issues.
Apple IIgs
1986–1992
The most advanced Apple II — 16-bit CPU, Ensoniq sound, and a GUI. Common issues: CMOS battery leakage (critical), failing power supply caps, clock chip failures.
Most Common Failures & Fixes
After servicing thousands of Apple IIs over the decades, these are the failures we see most frequently, ranked by how often they occur:
| Problem | Frequency | Models Affected | Typical Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dead power supply | Very common | All | Recap or replace PSU |
| No video / garbled display | Common | All | Reseat RAM, check video output IC |
| Keyboard not responding | Common | II, II+, IIe | Clean contacts, replace encoder chip |
| Floppy drive won't read | Common | All | Clean heads, replace drive belt (IIc) |
| Random crashes / bus errors | Moderate | All | Reseat or replace RAM chips |
| Battery corrosion (IIgs) | Very common | IIgs | Remove battery, clean corrosion, repair traces |
| Yellowed case plastic | Nearly universal | All | Retrobright treatment (hydrogen peroxide + UV) |
Power Supply Service
Difficulty:
Medium
The Apple II power supply is a switch-mode design that was advanced for its time but is now 40+ years old. Capacitors dry out, and the RIFA line filter caps are a ticking time bomb in every unit that hasn't been serviced.
1
Open & Inspect the Power Supply
Unplug the machine and remove the PSU (it lifts out of the case after disconnecting the power harness). Open the metal shielding. Look for bulging caps, a cracked RIFA cap (yellow/brown box capacitor near the AC input), and any discoloration on the PCB that indicates heat damage.
⏲ 20 minutes
2
Replace the RIFA Cap Immediately
If the RIFA cap has any cracks in its epoxy coating, replace it before powering on. A failing RIFA cap will explode with a loud pop and fill the room with foul-smelling smoke. It won't damage the computer, but it will scare you. Replace with a modern X2-rated safety capacitor of the same value.
⏲ 15 minutes
3
Full Capacitor Replacement
Replace all electrolytic capacitors with new 105°C-rated equivalents. The Apple II PSU has approximately 8–12 electrolytics depending on the revision. Match the capacitance and voltage rating (same or higher voltage). Pre-made recap kits are available and take the guesswork out of sourcing.
⏲ 1–2 hours
💡 Alternative: Modern Replacement PSUs
If you'd rather not service the original PSU, modern drop-in replacements are available. The ReActiveMicro Universal PSU and MeanWell-based kits provide clean, reliable power with modern safety features. They're a great option if the original PSU is beyond repair.
Motherboard Troubleshooting
Difficulty:
Medium
The Apple II motherboard is beautifully simple by modern standards — all through-hole components, most of which are socketed. This makes diagnosis and repair much easier than later machines.
The Golden Rule: Reseat Everything First
Before replacing any chips, pull every socketed IC and reseat it. Use an IC puller to avoid bending pins. Clean the pins with a fiberglass pen if they show oxidation (dull gray instead of shiny gold or silver). This single step fixes an astonishing number of "dead" Apple IIs. Oxidation builds up on the chip pins over decades, creating invisible barriers that prevent electrical contact.
RAM Troubleshooting
The Apple II and II+ use rows of 4116 DRAM chips (16K each). The IIe uses 4164 (64K) or 41256 (256K) chips. A single failed RAM chip can prevent the machine from booting or cause random crashes. If you get a garbled display or repeating patterns on screen, suspect RAM. Swap chips one at a time from a known-good source, or use a RAM diagnostic program booted from a floppy.
IIgs Battery Corrosion
The Apple IIgs contains a 3.6V lithium battery that is the single biggest threat to the machine. If the battery has leaked, it can eat through PCB traces and destroy nearby components. Remove the battery immediately, regardless of condition. Clean any residue with white vinegar followed by 99% IPA. Inspect traces under magnification and repair any breaks with jumper wire. Replace with a modern holder and a fresh battery, or use an external battery pack.
Disk Drives
Difficulty:
Easy
The Disk II (5.25") and later UniDisk (3.5") drives are remarkably robust mechanisms, but they do need periodic maintenance after decades of storage.
5.25" Disk II Drive Service
Clean the read/write head with a cotton swab dampened with 99% IPA. Check the drive belt — if it's stretched, cracked, or sticky, replace it. Lubricate the stepper motor rail with a tiny amount of white lithium grease. If the drive reads some disks but not others, the head alignment may have drifted — adjustment requires an alignment disk and oscilloscope.
IIc Internal Drive Belt
The Apple IIc's built-in drive uses a rubber belt that degrades over time. Symptoms include the drive not spinning or spinning at the wrong speed. Replacement belts are inexpensive and readily available. This is one of the easiest and most common IIc repairs.
Keyboard Restoration
Difficulty:
Easy
Apple II keyboards are built to last, but decades of storage can cause issues. The original Apple II and II+ keyboards use discrete switches, while the IIe and later models use a membrane or hybrid design.
For the II/II+: remove keycaps, clean switches with contact cleaner, and test each one. Replace any that don't register. For the IIe: the keyboard encoder chip (AY-5-3600 or equivalent) sometimes fails. Replacements are available from vintage chip suppliers. Clean the key contacts and the ribbon cable connector.
Modern Storage Solutions
One of the best upgrades you can make to any Apple II is replacing the mechanical floppy drives with a modern solid-state storage device. These are faster, more reliable, and let you load software from SD cards or USB drives.
Popular Options
- BMOW Floppy Emu — Emulates both 5.25" and 3.5" drives, plus SmartPort hard drives. Plugs into the disk controller or directly into the IIc. The most versatile option.
- MicroDrive/Turbo — A CompactFlash-based mass storage card that acts as a ProDOS hard drive. Blazing fast and holds thousands of disk images.
- CFFA3000 — Another CF/USB storage solution with a built-in menu system. Great for large software libraries.
- ADTPro — Free software that lets you transfer disk images from a modern computer to real Apple II floppies via serial or audio cable. Perfect for the purist who wants to use original drives.
Parts Sourcing
| Part | Est. Cost | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|
| PSU recap kit | $12–20 | |
| Modern replacement PSU | $55–85 | |
| 4116 / 4164 RAM chips | $1–3 each | |
| Disk II drive belt | $5–10 | |
| Floppy Emu (BMOW) | $85–130 | |
| IIgs replacement battery + holder | $8–15 | |
| Expansion cards, drives, cables | Varies |
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