[Laser] Free for the Postage 15 milliwat tube laser

[Tim Toast]

Sam's has a boat-load of repair tips on dead or dying He-Ne lasers. About the wierdest one i read was the "helium soak" - to replace leaked helium. 
You can place the dead tube in a plastic bag, squirt some helium inside (from a toy balloon) and seal it up for a few days... each day "soaking" can replace a years worth of leaked helium.
http://members.misty.com/don/laserhtr.htm