Mounting switches: Am I doing it wrong?

[Geroximo]

Hi guys,
I just wanted to assemble my GON Nerd60, which I got from Leandrens GB (thank you), but mounting the switches is giving me some trouble.
I don't know if it is supposed to be so hard, or if I'm just doing it wrong. (This is my first keyboard build)
The problem is: The switches don't want to fully clip into the PCB. There is still a gap between the switch housing and the PCB. Trying to push it into the PCB is very hard and my fingers are hurting like hell from doing so.

I clipped all switches into the plate, put the plate ontop of the PCB and tried to push the switches down on the PCB. As said, this is very hard and the switches don't want to fully clip into the PCB. Am I doing this wrong? Am I supposed to mount every switch seperately? Or do I just have to push harder? (RIP fingers)

[xondat]

Do one switch at a time, and push on both sides and it should pop in. There's no way you can do several at a time.

[Geroximo]

Doing them one by one is working much better, thanks alot.
What a newbie mistake ... emberassing  )

[xondat]

You're probably best soldering in the corners first and a couple anchors around just so the PCB doesn't flex too - that was my beginner mistake!

[tp4tissue]

you could do them all at once.. but the force required will probably crack the pcb

[jcoffin1981]

It looks like you are pushing in plate mounted switches.  On the bottom of the switches there are two plastic pins that fit into holes in the PCB.  These pins are to secure the switch into PCB's that lack a steel plate.   I found that using these on steel plates, it was difficult to push the two pins into the PCB.  These are not necessary because they clip in securely to the steel plate.  Using either a boxcutter or a wirecutter, you can clip these extra pins from the bottom of the switch and it will not be so hard to mount them properly.  It should not take a lot of pressure to mount the switch in the proper place.  It will simply clip in securely.  Then when you flip it to solder it there will be no chance of the switch falling out. 

[FrostyToast]

Shave the sides of the legs.

[LeandreN]

Just use a lot of force to push them in, one by one.

[jcoffin1981]

My pcb came with hole in it for the legs as well, but it was very difficult to push the switches in all the way.  Some of them were too snug and could not get enough clearance on the sides to slide the legs in all the way.  So, I cut them off. 

[katushkin]

Photeq had to trim all the legs of my Zealios. Hopefully you didn't have to do that as he trashed his fingers...

Sorryyyyyy...

[Geroximo]

I did them one by one and it worked. I dind't have to cut the legs. Everything went fine, Thanks guys

[merlin64]

Those Gateron/Zealio PCB mount stems are notorious for being a tad larger than the Cherry offering. As a result they require more force to properly seat in.

I recently had the same experience. My poor fingers 

[xtrafrood]

Shave the sides of the legs.

Do you even surf bro? Leg mullets are important