geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: rowdy on Mon, 30 July 2012, 23:13:51
-
Greetings all.
I have a couple of Ducky Shine keyboards, both with Cherry MX blue switches.
On one of the keyboards a couple of the keys do not really click, such as the up arrow key on this keyboard. The tactile feedback is there, but not the audible feedback.
The key works every time, as in the cursor moves up one line each time the key is pressed, but most times there is no click, just the sound of the key bottoming out. Actually kinda like I imagine a Cherry MX brown would sound.
Occasionally the key will click, say, a few times in a row, then stop clicking again for a while.
Would this tend to indicate a problem? Or is it more likely a manufacturing variation producing a quieter key?
I have read somewhere that the keys can be lubricated - is this correct? Would it help?
Thanx for any suggestions.
-
Did you spill anything on it? Even the slightest drop of sticky liquid will do this. It also could be dirt or something. And I'm pretty sure if the switch was lubricated on the inside, it wouldn't click at all. the little peace that slides down the stem to make it click would get stuck if there was lubricant on it.
-
Sometime thre is a burr on the stem which the click piece can get stuck on locking it in place like it was a one piece stem, so no clicking as it's the free movement that makes the click noise.
-
No spillage at all - the keyboard is only a couple of weeks old. I only noticed because on my first Ducky (also Cherry MX blue) all the keys have the same light "tick" sound, but on the second one a couple of keys, the up arrow in particular, don't go "tick" all the time.
The keys all work though, so I don't think the supplier would RMA just because a couple of keys are quieter some of the time.
At first I put it down to slight differences in manufacturing of the switches, but thought I'd ask in case it was a common thing.
-
It is most likely some dirt, which will go away after you use it some time.
I wouldn't worry about it.
I believe a quickfix is to spam the key a lot, or to blast air threw the switch.
-
If repeatedly using the key does not work. Take off the keycap and inspect the stem and see if there is anything wrong with it.
-
The stem seems fine. Actually taking the key cap off and repeatedly pressing the stem you can hear a sort of dull clicking noise, definitely not the sharp "tick" that comes from the other keys. I supposed with the key cap on it is muffling the click somewhat, but it is definitely not as sharp as the other keys.
As mentioned earlier, the key definitely works every time, so I will just try to ignore the inconsistency and see what happens.