Cherry ML 5200 - sticky space bar

[srcdecay]

First, I'm new here.  So hi.

Recently got my first mechanical keyboard since my very first IBM PC way back in the day.  Absolutely brilliant to use and I'm never going back to membrane or anything else.

However, a couple days ago, the space bar started to either stick or provide slow tactile feedback.  I popped off the key and the surrounding keys and the feedback on the switch on the space bar feels exactly the same as the others.  For good measure, I cleaned the space key and stabilizer with alcohol, let it dry, then put it back together.  Still sticky.   I haven't spilled anything on the keyboard or damaged it in any way, so I'm a bit lost.  All the other keys are fine.  Haven't dismantled it yet to investigate cause I don't have the right torx bit and I'm not sure how difficult reassembly would be.  Don't want to ruin it.

Any suggestions?  Totally lost here.  Thanks!

[microsoft windows]

Did you look to see if the stablizer on the space bar got unseated?

[Phaedrus2129]

ML switches tend to stick when the keycap is hit on a corner. Try hitting the corner of a normal key, you'll see it sticks a bit and doesn't go down smoothly. The problem is exacerbated when you have a very long key, like the space bar.

It's a shame, the sticking mars the reputation of the otherwise decent ML switches.

[srcdecay]

Forgot to mention the stabilizer.  I have checked over and over that it's seated properly and it's fine.

@phaedrus you're right about the corners on the keys.  Never noticed.  The space bar has just been sticking a heck a lot for the past couple days.  Sometimes it's so bad that it takes a second or so to pop back up to its neutral position.  No idea what's gunking it up.

Any suggestions for a relatively inexpensive model without this problem if it gets so bad I can't deal with it anymore?

[microsoft windows]

You could try a keyboard with brown Cherry switches if you like the light, smooth feel (I haven't used ML's so I don't know how they feel). Or if you like the typewriterey feel, an IBM Model M would be good. Both can be gotten cheap.

[Soarer]

Any suggestions?

If your stabilizer is the same as on my ML4100, I think the tubes that the pins go into would be the most likely to be affected by dirt (dunno how it would get in there though. I've had this board for about 5 years and not had any problems). Maybe a little lube would help.

ML switches tend to stick when the keycap is hit on a corner. Try hitting the corner of a normal key, you'll see it sticks a bit and doesn't go down smoothly. The problem is exacerbated when you have a very long key, like the space bar.

It's a shame, the sticking mars the reputation of the otherwise decent ML switches.

Actually, I find the space bar suffers from it less because of the stabilizer! I don't notice any sticking on the other keys most of the time either though tbh.