Opening plate mounted MX switches

[swill]

I have done a bunch of research on here, and I just want to validate my understanding.

My understanding is that you need to de-solder the switches in order to remove the top of the switch in order to access the spring and sliders.

This is relevant for lubing, but I happened to spill a small amount of coffee on the corner of my Filco.  I have two switches that are kinda sticky.  I wanted to be able to just open up the switch housing and clean and then lube those switches, but that does not seem possible without unsoldering the entire PCB.

Can anyone confirm this?  Also, if this is the case.  Does anyone have tricks for cleaning a switch without opening it? 

Thx...

[SpAmRaY]

If you just need to fix a couple switches you just desolder those switches. Also you might have to replace the switches completely, it's hard to say if you can 'fix' them.

And their is a simple answers simple questions thread for questions like these.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40501.0

you might also find this thread helpful

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46376.0

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

^Ray said it. The only way is to de-solder the switch and remove it.  And you don't need to de-solder the entire PCB, just those two switches.  Once the switch is de-soldered it can be removed from the plate.

[swill]

Thank you, that helps a lot...