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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: beepbeep_ on Sat, 11 May 2013, 10:55:44

Title: Filco Majestouch broken keys
Post by: beepbeep_ on Sat, 11 May 2013, 10:55:44

Hello everyone,

My left CTRL and F5 keys are broken, I want to figure out the problem and fix them myself if possible.

Where do I start?

Title: Re: Filco Majestouch broken keys
Post by: CPTBadAss on Sat, 11 May 2013, 10:57:48

Maybe you should start with describing what you mean by "Broken".

Does the switch not actuate?
Is it double tapping?
Are they jammed?
Did you spill anything on the board?

Title: Re: Filco Majestouch broken keys
Post by: beepbeep_ on Sat, 11 May 2013, 11:02:03

The board fell a couple of months ago, ctrl key stopped working from time to time before eventually never working again. F5 key stopped working a couple of weeks after that.
The keys "feel" fine, can't notice any difference compared to a working key when pressing them.

Title: Re: Filco Majestouch broken keys
Post by: CPTBadAss on Sat, 11 May 2013, 11:05:24

Maybe you loosened the switches from the PCB and now the signals aren't being carried? Have you opened your board to look at anything?

Title: Re: Filco Majestouch broken keys
Post by: beepbeep_ on Sat, 11 May 2013, 11:27:30

I have opened the board and removed the keys, the switches seem fine, nothing out of the ordinary. Should I try to open the switch and have a look in there? Not really sure what I'm looking for though.

Title: Re: Filco Majestouch broken keys
Post by: Mainian on Sat, 11 May 2013, 16:26:31

Quote from: beepbeep_ on Sat, 11 May 2013, 11:27:30

I have opened the board and removed the keys, the switches seem fine, nothing out of the ordinary. Should I try to open the switch and have a look in there? Not really sure what I'm looking for though.

The actual solder joint could have broken. Which can be impossible to tell until you fully desolder the key.

Title: Re: Filco Majestouch broken keys
Post by: beepbeep_ on Sun, 12 May 2013, 03:52:59

Damnit, entire board is starting to fall apart.
It seems like left alt, backspace and return have also given up after opening up the board. Opening the board went smooth, can't imagine that I broke anything :s

Title: Re: Filco Majestouch broken keys
Post by: berserkfan on Sun, 12 May 2013, 07:10:49

maybe the contacts were broken and now you have to desolder/ resolder again? I note that these keys are not near each other

Quote from: beepbeep_ on Sun, 12 May 2013, 03:52:59

Damnit, entire board is starting to fall apart.
It seems like left alt, backspace and return have also given up after opening up the board. Opening the board went smooth, can't imagine that I broke anything :s

Title: Re: Filco Majestouch broken keys
Post by: beepbeep_ on Sun, 12 May 2013, 08:28:21

Quote from: berserkfan on Sun, 12 May 2013, 07:10:49

maybe the contacts were broken and now you have to desolder/ resolder again? I note that these keys are not near each other

Quote from: beepbeep_ on Sun, 12 May 2013, 03:52:59

Damnit, entire board is starting to fall apart.
It seems like left alt, backspace and return have also given up after opening up the board. Opening the board went smooth, can't imagine that I broke anything :s

Can I test this somehow? Don't feel like resoldering and hope for the best.