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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: fuzzybyte on Sat, 06 November 2010, 00:41:57

Title: Erratic backspace on blue switch FILCO
Post by: fuzzybyte on Sat, 06 November 2010, 00:41:57

I bought meself a blue switch FILCO about 1.5 years ago.
I was happy with it and it worked fine until just recently.
It seems that the switch on backspace key might have broken.
It demonstrates somewhat random operation.
About 90% of time it actuates only one keypress (as it should).
However, sometimes it actuates 2-3 times or not at all!
Especially, if I press the key with even a slightly greater force than normally,
it always actuates 2-3 keypresses.

Is there anything to be done to fix this?
I bought this from USA, but I live in EU myself, so I can't RMA it.

Have any of you encountered this kind of problem too?

Edit:

After cleaning the keyboard (without opening it) it became apparent that there is some sort of contact problem as backspace wont a work at all if i hold its left side but right side works always.

How do I open this this? I tried removing the screw on the back, but it still won't open.

Edit Edit:

okay if I push and hold down the switch all the way to the bottom it does NOT actuate, but only right after the tactile click.

Title: Erratic backspace on blue switch FILCO
Post by: fuzzybyte on Sat, 06 November 2010, 08:33:29

okay tried to open it and clean the soldering but now it's pretty much completely broken

****

wish i had replacement switches

Title: Erratic backspace on blue switch FILCO
Post by: didjamatic on Sat, 06 November 2010, 08:44:06

Filco switches are plate mounted. Meaning they are held in a plate above the PCB (printed circuit board).  This plate covers the tabs on the sides of the switch so you can't safely get them open without desoldering the switch contacts on the back of the PCB first, then popping the entire switch out, then you can open/replace the switch.

You could take a switch from scroll lock, or another less used key and swap them but you will have to desolder them to do it right.

I'm sure there are members in your area that you could get a single switch from.

Title: Erratic backspace on blue switch FILCO
Post by: fuzzybyte on Sat, 06 November 2010, 09:59:52

I tried to so the desoldering swap thing, but ended up just breaking another switch... ;_;
oh well, it was just a windows key so no value was lost.

anyone willing to post me few blue switches to Finland?
perhaps i can still salvage this
i could send few euros in return through paypal if needed

Title: Erratic backspace on blue switch FILCO
Post by: didjamatic on Sat, 06 November 2010, 10:04:45

My only blues are in complete boards or I would offer to send you a few.

You can definitely save the keyboard, don't worry about that.

Title: Erratic backspace on blue switch FILCO
Post by: fuzzybyte on Sun, 07 November 2010, 19:43:59

bump
anyone has spare switches for me?

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=12596

Title: Erratic backspace on blue switch FILCO
Post by: keyb_gr on Sun, 07 November 2010, 20:33:28

If all goes wrong, you can still order such switches at Mouser and Digikey (see the wiki for part numbers); the latter will ship worldwide from what I remember but you'll have to look up payment options and shipping cost.

Title: Erratic backspace on blue switch FILCO
Post by: fuzzybyte on Sun, 07 November 2010, 20:41:16

Quote from: keyb_gr;244033

If all goes wrong, you can still order such switches at Mouser and Digikey (see the wiki for part numbers); the latter will ship worldwide from what I remember but you'll have to look up payment options and shipping cost.

Horyy sheet !! Thanks for the tip.

Do you know if any other (EU) sites might sell switches too? Both Mouser and Digikey seem to have very steep delivery charges.

Title: Erratic backspace on blue switch FILCO
Post by: fuzzybyte on Mon, 08 November 2010, 00:29:40

thanks for everything.
ordered few switches from digikey.