HHKB 2 Type-S Unsilenced Left Shift

[Blue_Moon]

I just got my HHKB Pro 2 Type-S and it's quieter, except for the Left Shift which makes a loud "thock". Is it just mine, or are others like this?

[Blue_Moon]

Okay, I should've searched google first, but it appears I'm not the only one.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/33a13o/type_s_left_shift_best_key_ever/?st=j0i8z7hx&sh=7c4a3778

I'd like to change my question to, "any ideas why the left shift is unsilenced?"

[Puddsy]

That's weird. You can do a dental band mod on just the left shift if it really bothers you. Not sure why just the left shift would be like that.

Maybe someone who has taken apart a type S can chime in?

[tp4tissue]

Hrrrrmmm......


Since that key can travel a little side ways, as it's not stabilized,  its possible the ring is getting stuck at an angle as you depress the keys.  so when it returns, that stuck portion is preventing an even dampening of the return stroke.


Gotta take it apart to know for sure.

[Blue_Moon]

I just popped my keycaps off. Haven't any clue what's dampening the sound, as there isn't anything under the keycap. The Left Shift has the same design as the Return key, and my Return key is silenced. The unsilenced "thock" sound occurs on the downstroke.

[tp4tissue]

I just popped my keycaps off. Haven't any clue what's dampening the sound, as there isn't anything under the keycap. The Left Shift has the same design as the Return key, and my Return key is silenced. The unsilenced "thock" sound occurs on the downstroke.

on downstroke ?

Hrrrrmmm.....   you need to open the keyboard.. (the whole keyboard), the silencer is a rubber ring under the switch for the upstroke..

For downstroke, the rubber cup should be silencing the board.. very odd..

[Blue_Moon]

i see what you mean. ty! it's definitely the downstroke, but from what i understand, the upstroke is what's silenced on the type s. so i listened to it carefully, and indeed the upstroke is silenced. so the left shift is silenced.

what i wonder then is why the left shift makes such a distinctive thock. i have an regular hhkb at home (i recently got both), and i bet its left shift makes the same sound, though i never noticed before.

but at least now i don't have to wonder why there's something wrong with my type s. every key is in fact silenced

[tp4tissue]

i see what you mean. ty! it's definitely the downstroke, but from what i understand, the upstroke is what's silenced on the type s. so i listened to it carefully, and indeed the upstroke is silenced. so the left shift is silenced.

what i wonder then is why the left shift makes such a distinctive thock. i have an regular hhkb at home (i recently got both), and i bet its left shift makes the same sound, though i never noticed before.

but at least now i don't have to wonder why there's something wrong with my type s. every key is in fact silenced

is it a plastic-y thock,  or just a louder more poof-y thock sound.

[Blue_Moon]

it's plastic-y. it's loud and noticeable, unlike any other key on this keyboard

[Air tree]

Mine is exactly the same, there are sound differences between most keys, just the left shift just sounds a bit odd compared to others.

The left shift on the type s and on the regular version have that.

[tp4tissue]

it's plastic-y. it's loud and noticeable, unlike any other key on this keyboard

Hrrrm.. ok, then it's probably the keycap hitting the top of the shaft..

IF NOT,  then it could be the side of the keycap contacting the top of the plate.

Yellow Dots.

Blue Dots

Take a piece of thicker paper, cut it into the shape of the clearing around the top of the keycap,  and tape it in with a little flake of double sided tape,  it doesn't have to be perfect,  this is just to confirm where the sound is coming from.

[tp4tissue]

does the sound happen when you hit the switch dead center in the middle.. or only from hitting it on the side.

[Blue_Moon]

i tried hitting it in the center and the sides. it happens regardless, so it isn't from the keycap being unstabilized. my best guess is it comes from under the keyboard, like the keyboard is hollow under the left shift. this matches what air tree said about each key sounding slightly different, which they do, it's just the left shift is so much different

but what i really was concerned about is whether my keyboard is defective and i need to return it. it's comforting to hear that this is normal, and it's no big deal. i'm happy with this keyboard! i mean, i don't care about "fixing" the sound. i just want to leave the keyboard as it's intended

[tp4tissue]

i tried hitting it in the center and the sides. it happens regardless, so it isn't from the keycap being unstabilized. my best guess is it comes from under the keyboard, like the keyboard is hollow under the left shift. this matches what air tree said about each key sounding slightly different, which they do, it's just the left shift is so much different

but what i really was concerned about is whether my keyboard is defective and i need to return it. it's comforting to hear that this is normal, and it's no big deal. i'm happy with this keyboard! i mean, i don't care about "fixing" the sound. i just want to leave the keyboard as it's intended

If it is not happening on any of the keys immediately next to the shift key,  it's not a pcb/housing issue..

It's probably the yellow dots then if this happens dead center..

Try the paper and tape thing.

[need]

How about the Return key?

[Blue_Moon]

i don't have any double sided tape. i don't know what exactly i'm checking for, so i don't know if this substitute will test the same thing. but i have some soft landing pads

https://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,slpads&pid=sl120_cs

i put one on the left shift key, and it still makes the exact same thock sound.

[Blue_Moon]

the return key *doesn't* make that thocking sound

in fact, i just took the keycaps off. the return, left shift, and control, which is just above the left shift. it isn't the cap at all. it makes that thock sound (though slightly different) when i press on the black stem!

[tp4tissue]

the return key *doesn't* make that thocking sound

in fact, i just took the keycaps off. the return, left shift, and control, which is just above the left shift. it isn't the cap at all. it makes that thock sound (though slightly different) when i press on the black stem!

hrrmm.. well you gotta disassemble it then.

does the enter key fit over the shift,  try that does it still make noise

[Blue_Moon]

the enter key does fit over the left shift stem, and it still makes that noise. i confirmed that it's the actual stem making that noise, by pressing on the stem without any keycap

i ain't disassembling this keyboard. i'm okay with the thock. just wanted to make sure it was normal

[droideggs]

im having the same issue where the left shift key is loud on my type-s.

didn't notice this until today. received it yesterday.

its definitely noticeably louder than the other keys.
its as though the left shift key was left unsilenced. it gets loud on the downstroke, as though there is no softener to prevent it from making the loud thock sound.

edit: its my first post since i joined 4 years ago. interesting..