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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: typeslow on Fri, 27 May 2011, 22:03:23

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: typeslow on Fri, 27 May 2011, 22:03:23

Hi everybody,

Some liquid was spilled on my Filco Majestouch and now one of my keys is not clicking at all. The computer still registers the keystroke but the tactile difference is making me insane. Anyone know what could be causing this? I airblasted out all the crap out around the switch, and still no luck.

Is it possible to safely pull out the switch so I can see what's happening?

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: noodles256 on Fri, 27 May 2011, 22:19:45

wlcm 2 ocn.

woops, meant gh

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: typeslow on Fri, 27 May 2011, 22:56:17

Quote from: ripster;352280

What kind of liquid?

And Welcome to Geekhack!

 
Thanks for the welcome, both of you. It's nice to be on a forum where people are nice. :)


And the liquid in question is juice.

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: Zet on Fri, 27 May 2011, 23:06:09

Welcome to GeekHack.

You might wanna try to get a replacement switch and solder/unsolder your way to have the key working properly.

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: audioave10 on Fri, 27 May 2011, 23:07:56

Wow, juice could be very sticky when it dries. Hang on, as there are alot of Filco owners here to help.

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: xwhatsit on Sat, 28 May 2011, 00:10:50

Need something to remove the sticky sugars left on the parts. Probably Windex isn't a good idea. Lol. But some kind of other solvent -- with cameras shutters, which are a lot more delicate and finely-tuned than a keyswitch, one tends to use naphtha (in the form of Zippo or Ronsonol lighter fluid) a fair bit, it's very effective. Doesn't let things rust when it dries, either. Seems to be plastic-safe, at least for the type of plastics used in old cameras. Seek further advice first, though.

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: Tony on Sat, 28 May 2011, 00:54:29

The juice must have come to the inner part of the switch, dried, and stuck there, away from all outside airblasting. You better replace the whole switch.

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: Oqsy on Sat, 28 May 2011, 01:11:27

Plate-mounted loses again!

This fix would be painfully simple on a PCB mounted board, but unfortunately with a filco you're likely stuck repkacing the switch, as its necessary to desolder it just to get to it for cleaning, at that point why chance it with the same switch when you can just put a new one in its place...

Sorry, not the best news, but it CAN be made right if you know how to desolder/solder and can follow a switch replacement guide.

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: Oqsy on Sat, 28 May 2011, 03:44:48

Remove keycap, pop open switch, remove stem and spring, clean inside of switch with q-tip and isopropyl, etc., clean stem and spring in warm soapy water, dry, and reassemble. 5-10 minutes tops, and no soldering or desoldering. Where's the bit that makes it tricky for Rip?

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: The Solutor on Sat, 28 May 2011, 04:05:36

Quote from: Oqsy;352355

Where's the bit that makes it tricky for Rip?

 

In his head.:happy:

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: Ascaii on Sat, 28 May 2011, 04:08:46

Quote from: Oqsy;352355

Remove keycap, pop open switch, remove stem and spring, clean inside of switch with q-tip and isopropyl, etc., clean stem and spring in warm soapy water, dry, and reassemble. 5-10 minutes tops, and no soldering or desoldering. Where's the bit that makes it tricky for Rip?

please show me how to pop open a plate mounted switch without desoldering, id appreciate it.

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: The Solutor on Sat, 28 May 2011, 04:10:22

Quote from: Ascaii;352357

please show me how to pop open a plate mounted switch without desoldering, id appreciate it.

 
He is referring to PCB mounted ones

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 28 May 2011, 05:09:29

Quote from: ripster;352330

Not exactly painfully simple on a PCB keyboard but definitely painful to type on a PCB mounted keyboard.

 
At this point, the trolling goes from boring and irrelevant to just misleading.

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: Oqsy on Sat, 28 May 2011, 09:07:07

Ascaii:  yes, The Solutoris right  I was explaining how a PCB mounted switch would be easier to fix in this scenario.

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: The Solutor on Sat, 28 May 2011, 09:52:39

Quote from: ripster;352417

Pop open the case.  Hit two solder points.  Replace the switch.  What can be easier than that?

 
Not open the case and not use a solder.

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 28 May 2011, 09:56:04

Quote from: ripster;352417

Pop open the case.  Hit two solder points.  Replace the switch.  What can be easier than that?

 
Remove the keycap, use two screwdrivers to open the switch, clean innards.

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: The Solutor on Sat, 28 May 2011, 09:58:49

Already too much, a single (large) screwdriver is more than enough.

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: Oqsy on Sat, 28 May 2011, 21:27:20

Well at least we know that Ripster knows the color of the kettle.

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: Zet on Sat, 28 May 2011, 23:18:52

I was interested on the guide for soldering and desoldering, but I think the one on the wiki is incomplete, also, someone here mind posting where can we get single switches for this kind of replacement issues?

I'm thinking, depending on the prices and difficulty on this, I wanna try to unsolder/replace my red cherry spacebar and replace it with a black one. What do you guys think?

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: Zet on Sun, 29 May 2011, 00:18:30

Thanks for the linking Ripster

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: typeslow on Sun, 29 May 2011, 00:53:14

Quote from: ch_123;352420

Remove the keycap, use two screwdrivers to open the switch, clean innards.

Are there any posts/pics that show how to do this? I'm scared to randomly start prying at it.

I don't understand why I would have to resolder anything because I spilled juice on it. Juice melts the solder? Or am I missing something obvious

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: Zet on Sun, 29 May 2011, 01:20:50

When I saw that picture not long ago from that OP I got shocked so bad...
Then the pictures of the rusted switches really got me thinking... what in the mothers name... have you done duuuude X_X

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: ch_123 on Sun, 29 May 2011, 06:08:27

Quote from: typeslow;352672

Are there any posts/pics that show how to do this? I'm scared to randomly start prying at it.

I don't understand why I would have to resolder anything because I spilled juice on it. Juice melts the solder? Or am I missing something obvious

 
This was in reference to PCB mounted switches. In the case of plate mounted switches, they open differently and have to be desoldered first.

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: keyb_gr on Mon, 30 May 2011, 12:11:35

Well, they don't really open differently, but with plate-mounted switches you don't have enough clearance around the casing to do it in situ. Hence the need for desoldering.

Title: Cherry MX Blue stopped clicking
Post by: slueth on Mon, 30 May 2011, 12:24:26

Probably should buy it from mouser, digikey is a little more expensive(shipping not calculated)