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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: deegaf on Thu, 29 November 2012, 16:44:37

Title: Broke Leopold Spacebar
Post by: deegaf on Thu, 29 November 2012, 16:44:37

Hey guys, I accidentally broke one of the switches for the Leopold spacebar.  Problem is, this board seems to be epoxied and I can't even remove the plate from the back cover. Anyone had experience taking a Leopold apart?

Title: Re: Broke Leopold Spacebar
Post by: 1391401 on Thu, 29 November 2012, 19:06:44

I believe all of the switches must be desoldered in order to remove the switches and the plate to perform the fix.  Some plates have a space where you can wedge a tool in there to open the top of the switch and replace the innards but I do not believe those are available on any standard keyboard.

edit: you did say 'one of the switches for the spacebar' did you perhaps mean the stabilizers to the right and left the switch?  They kind of look like a small switch in a way... it might be possible that you dislodged the stabilizer bar and that can be fixed if you have ninja skillz

Title: Re: Broke Leopold Spacebar
Post by: deegaf on Fri, 30 November 2012, 05:45:29

Ah, that is it. I meant to say stabilizer the first time, but it's been like 6 mos and I forgot how it looked in there.  But yes, I think I'd have to go under to replace the stabilizer since I broke some other part of the plastic and the plate can't come off.  I'll just buy another keyboard, it's hopeless lol.

Title: Re: Broke Leopold Spacebar
Post by: TheProfosist on Fri, 30 November 2012, 05:56:08

you need to desolder the switches i believe to get at the cherry stabilizers

Title: Re: Broke Leopold Spacebar
Post by: TotalChaos on Fri, 30 November 2012, 06:33:37

@Deegaf

How did you break the spacebar?

A bout of drunken online gaming?  :))

Fight with Mrs. Deegaf?  :-*

I am curious as I have never broken any key on any keyboard in my life despite having dropped many keyboards on the floor many times.  + lots of intense gaming, etc.

Title: Re: Broke Leopold Spacebar
Post by: dorkvader on Sat, 01 December 2012, 13:54:24

Quote from: 1391401 on Thu, 29 November 2012, 19:06:44

I believe all of the switches must be desoldered in order to remove the switches and the plate to perform the fix.  Some plates have a space where you can wedge a tool in there to open the top of the switch and replace the innards but I do not believe those are available on any standard keyboard.

edit: you did say 'one of the switches for the spacebar' did you perhaps mean the stabilizers to the right and left the switch?  They kind of look like a small switch in a way... it might be possible that you dislodged the stabilizer bar and that can be fixed if you have ninja skillz

Actually, you only need to desolder the one switch. The custom plates are set up so you can replace the switch tops without desoldering at all, but I tested this on several keyboards I was destroying for parts, and you can pretty easily compress the upper and lower wedges holding the switch on once you've desoldered it. You do need to get all the solder off, though.