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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: BrokenGame on Tue, 06 August 2013, 06:16:58

Title: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: BrokenGame on Tue, 06 August 2013, 06:16:58: Hi,

About two weeks ago, I bought a new HHKB from Elitekeyboards. Everything seemed to be perfect but this week I've started to hear some Click sound on some of the keys; like a spring sound. To solve the problem, I've thought about lubing the plungers or the springs. (That guy had the same problem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW8QIE6OK0Q (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW8QIE6OK0Q) and solve this by lubing the springs, just want to be sure before doing so)

Did it happen to anyone else? How did you solve it?

Thank you
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: jabar on Tue, 06 August 2013, 07:06:19: Before you rip apart your $250+ keyboard, how about email Brian at EK and ask what's up with your keyboard?

If you do lube your springs and screw up, the warranty sticker will be broken and EK won't do anything for you.
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: BrokenGame on Tue, 06 August 2013, 11:32:58: Quote from: jabar on Tue, 06 August 2013, 07:06:19
Before you rip apart your $250+ keyboard, how about email Brian at EK and ask what's up with your keyboard?

If you do lube your springs and screw up, the warranty sticker will be broken and EK won't do anything for you.

Yea, I already did and he answered me I didn't have to lube the springs and it was fairly common, but it is kind of annoying and I want to know if someone has successfully repaired it (whatever the method he used) and how he did it, just to explore my options :).
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: khaangaaroo on Tue, 06 August 2013, 12:29:33: I can explain! The spring gets stuck to the membrane, and the click sound comes from the spring becoming unstuck and hitting the PCB when you lift off the key.
Lube to eliminate the stickiness between membrane and spring would fix it. I've also had the stickiness just go away over time.

Photo and diagram by me :)

(http://i.imgur.com/fw5skE6.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/J7t6LQ9.jpg)
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: TheSoulhunter on Tue, 06 August 2013, 13:28:01: Quote from: khaangaaroo on Tue, 06 August 2013, 12:29:33
I can explain! The spring gets stuck to the membrane, and the click sound comes from the spring becoming unstuck and hitting the PCB when you lift off the key.
Lube to eliminate the stickiness between membrane and spring would fix it. I've also had the stickiness just go away over time.

Photo and diagram by me :)

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/fw5skE6.jpg)

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/J7t6LQ9.jpg)

Always wondered whats causing this effect...
Thanks for that thesis/info, makes perfectly sense!
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: BrokenGame on Tue, 06 August 2013, 13:55:34: Quote from: khaangaaroo on Tue, 06 August 2013, 12:29:33
I can explain! The spring gets stuck to the membrane, and the click sound comes from the spring becoming unstuck and hitting the PCB when you lift off the key.
Lube to eliminate the stickiness between membrane and spring would fix it. I've also had the stickiness just go away over time.

Your theory makes perfect sense since I hear the sound when I release the key. Also, I recieved an e-mail from Brian, and he confirmed your theory and said it would loosen up over time and didn't recommend lube, so I guess I'll wait.. Anyway, Thanks for the info.
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: Neo.X on Tue, 06 August 2013, 14:20:18: Quote from: khaangaaroo on Tue, 06 August 2013, 12:29:33
I can explain! The spring gets stuck to the membrane, and the click sound comes from the spring becoming unstuck and hitting the PCB when you lift off the key.
Lube to eliminate the stickiness between membrane and spring would fix it. I've also had the stickiness just go away over time.

Photo and diagram by me :)

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/fw5skE6.jpg)

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/J7t6LQ9.jpg)

Thanks a lot for this detail explanation.
:thumb:
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: daerid on Tue, 06 August 2013, 15:15:27: Don't worry, this goes away. Happened on every Topre board I've owned. The sounds dissipates after a few weeks.
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 06 August 2013, 17:30:55: Fantastic pictures - although my HHKB has not experienced this particular problem.
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: reziak on Tue, 25 February 2014, 14:00:27: Sorry for the necro, but I just received a new HHKB that has this extra sound after the release of the key. The keys make a little ticking sound right after you bottom out and start releasing the key back up. For some of the keys, depressing it from a certain angle only makes the sound. It affects quite a few keys on this board. I emailed EK to see what they have to say, but of course with the cost of these it's hard not to be a little paranoid. The sound should go away after a bit? Unfortunately, some of the keys with the problem aren't used often ("\", for instance). Does sitting here and "working" the switch repeatedly help at all? I'm only concerned about this because I've owned two other Topre boards and didn't have this problem on either board. Thanks guys!
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: daetsid on Tue, 25 February 2014, 14:07:40: you guys pay $250 for a pinggy keyboard? lol
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: Air tree on Tue, 25 February 2014, 14:12:54: Quote from: daetsid on Tue, 25 February 2014, 14:07:40
you guys pay $250 for a pinggy keyboard? lol
(http://www.midnightreview.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/facepalm.gif)

Lets not start another argument on the price of these keyboards, pls.
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Tue, 25 February 2014, 14:15:58: Quote from: reziak on Tue, 25 February 2014, 14:00:27
Sorry for the necro, but I just received a new HHKB that has this extra sound after the release of the key. The keys make a little ticking sound right after you bottom out and start releasing the key back up. It affects 4-5 keys on here. I emailed EK to see what they have to say, but of course with the cost of these it's hard not to be a little paranoid. The sound should go away after a bit? Unfortunately, some of the keys with the problem aren't used often ("\", for instance). Does sitting here and "working" the switch repeatedly help at all? I've owned two other Topre boards and didn't have this problem on either board. Thanks guys!

Don't quite know what else to tell you, the solution to your problem is already answered in this thread.

Since some of the keys are low-traffic keys, increase use of those keys temporarily until the clicks go away (spam the keys until the clicking stops). That's all I can suggest to you...
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: reziak on Tue, 25 February 2014, 14:16:16: Quote from: daetsid on Tue, 25 February 2014, 14:07:40
you guys pay $250 for a pinggy keyboard? lol

You're beating a dead horse, dude!
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: daetsid on Tue, 25 February 2014, 14:47:41: Quote from: reziak on Tue, 25 February 2014, 14:16:16
Quote from: daetsid on Tue, 25 February 2014, 14:07:40
you guys pay $250 for a pinggy keyboard? lol

You're beating a dead horse, dude!

Well I "beat" a brand new battleship from the 80's...and it doesn't ping :thumb:
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: avtar on Tue, 25 February 2014, 15:48:57: Quote from: daetsid on Tue, 25 February 2014, 14:47:41
Quote from: reziak on Tue, 25 February 2014, 14:16:16
Quote from: daetsid on Tue, 25 February 2014, 14:07:40
you guys pay $250 for a pinggy keyboard? lol

You're beating a dead horse, dude!

Well I "beat" a brand new battleship from the 80's...and it doesn't ping :thumb:

(http://i.imgur.com/LzSReOI.gif)
Title: Re: HHKB Click sound issue
Post by: dustinhxc on Wed, 26 February 2014, 00:01:41: You know what, I totally forgot my HHKB made a Spring noise but it hasnt since I lubed my slider housings. :thumb: