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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: aycko on Wed, 15 August 2012, 18:29:22

Title: Where to buy Model M parts in Germany?
Post by: aycko on Wed, 15 August 2012, 18:29:22

I own an old Model M that works fine except for the Spacebar. It does not work all the time and sometimes it gets stuck. I guess the spring is broken or something.

Here are my questions:

• Can I somehow switch the springs to test if this is the problem? I want to take a spring from the ten key block.
• Is there some easy to understand guide? Do I need special tools? I have never done that.
• Where can I order Model M parts in Germany? Especially springs.

Title: Re: Where to buy Model M parts in Germany?
Post by: dorkvader on Wed, 15 August 2012, 20:32:37

Take the spacebar off and make sure it's seated right. If it's not seated on the spring right, that can cause issues. When the key is off, doublecheck that the spring looks to be normal height compared with the other springs. If it's not, you might have to swap or replace it (I recommend scroll-lock, since I don't use it).

I haven't done it, but you can supposedly switch the springs using a chopstick. Lookup sandy55's chopstick of death method.

More importantly, make sure the stabilizer bar is on right. I've had that cause issues for me. Any pictures you can post?
---
You should be able to get spare springs and hammers from unicomp. Email them or open a support ticket, and they sholud be able to help you. If they don't do international shipping, there are GH'ers that can mail forward.

Title: Re: Where to buy Model M parts in Germany?
Post by: mich on Wed, 15 August 2012, 23:03:08

Quote from: dorkvader on Wed, 15 August 2012, 20:32:37

More importantly, make sure the stabilizer bar is on right. I've had that cause issues for me. Any pictures you can post?

+1
Probably one end of the stabilizing wire went loose.

Title: Re: Where to buy Model M parts in Germany?
Post by: aycko on Thu, 16 August 2012, 04:58:44

Sorry for the poor quality, but here are the pictures.

(http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/7950/dscf1238z.jpg)

(http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/1176/dscf1239s.jpg)

I could not open the case, because I lack the required tool. I just bought this from Amazon, should do the trick (http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B004PTN8X8/ (http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B004PTN8X8/)).

Title: Re: Where to buy Model M parts in Germany?
Post by: Icarium on Thu, 16 August 2012, 05:46:53

Have you tried putting another keycap on the spacebar spring? Does it work with that?

Title: Re: Where to buy Model M parts in Germany?
Post by: aycko on Thu, 16 August 2012, 06:47:46

I fixed it. I used the chopstick method to swap my "Rollen" key spring (I think this is the scroll-lock key) with the Spacebar.

At first there was a problem and the Spacebar was active all the time, but with a bit of tinkering I fixed it.

Thanks for the help. I guess I should still buy a bunch of extra springs, just in case.