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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: oiman on Fri, 17 January 2014, 10:15:49

Title: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: oiman on Fri, 17 January 2014, 10:15:49
First post (been lurking this forums for a while seeking a new keyboard though :D), so, hi!

I was in retard mode yesterday night and snapped one of the stem while trying to remove one of the keycap...

I attached images of the result. The keyboard is a Ducky 9008 Shine 3 Cherry MX Brown (and I must say that I'm very satisfied with it so far!).

First question, can I repair that with the LED? I found a place where I could order the whole stem thing (black square with brown switch) but I fear that there could be no room for the LED. Any idea what I am getting into if I want to repair that? Any soldering? Can I re-use the actualy LED? How would you proceed to remove the brown part in the keycap?I'm looking for all sort of readings and references if your guys have some!

I don't know if I'm posting this in the correct section, feel free to move it if not. I'll be glad to give more information if needed!
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: BakerMan1971 on Fri, 17 January 2014, 10:26:01
Good old reddit problem solving guide
http://imgur.com/a/fyxIg

the switch can be disassembled but depending on the mount you may need to de/re-solder

good luck
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: BlueBär on Fri, 17 January 2014, 10:30:53
That is repairable, what you need to do is replacing the switch. You first need to open up your keyboard, then you need to desolder the LED and the switch, pull the LED off (remember which pin was on the left/right, I suggest marking it with some tape), then pull off the switch from the plate. You can then put in the new switch, solder it in and then put in the LED and solder that in. There's a notch for the LED so don't worry about that.

Do you have soldering/desldering experience? If not, we can explain that in a lot more detail :)

More details on all those things also in the link in my signature.

the switch can be disassembled but depending on the mount you may need to de/re-solder

Ducky uses plate mount switches, so it needs to be desoldered and resoldered.
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 17 January 2014, 10:38:15
hahahahaha...

Mmmm.... a little super glue to a small piece of wood  and pull

Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 17 January 2014, 10:39:10
The question is how do you get the piece of brown stem out of the keycap?
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: asdfjkl36 on Fri, 17 January 2014, 10:42:36
The question is how do you get the piece of brown stem out of the keycap?


My best guess is
1. Heat up a thick safety pin or a nail
2. Push pin/nail it into the stem that's stuck while it's still hot, melting the plastic
3. Just pull it out once it's settled in
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 17 January 2014, 10:44:11
The question is how do you get the piece of brown stem out of the keycap?


My best guess is
1. Heat up a thick safety pin or a nail
2. Push pin/nail it into the stem that's stuck while it's still hot, melting the plastic
3. Just pull it out once it's settled in

ah.... do not do this...

what if you melt the stem..
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: Photoelectric on Fri, 17 January 2014, 10:48:18
ah.... do not do this...

what if you melt the stem..

Oh no, not the broken switch stem that's lodged in a keycap stem.... which is effectively blocked :)
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: BlueBär on Fri, 17 January 2014, 10:48:55
ah.... do not do this...

what if you melt the stem..

You mean the broken one? Yeah that would be terrible.

The guide BakerMan linked suggests a 1/16" drill bit, I don't know how good that would work but I guess it's worth a try. Just be really careful. I would try asdfjkl's suggestion first.
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 17 January 2014, 10:53:49
ah.... do not do this...

what if you melt the stem..

You mean the broken one? Yeah that would be terrible.

The guide BakerMan linked suggests a 1/16" drill bit, I don't know how good that would work but I guess it's worth a try. Just be really careful. I would try asdfjkl's suggestion first.

no i mean if you end up melting the stem of the keycap
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: BlueBär on Fri, 17 January 2014, 10:57:09
no i mean if you end up melting the stem of the keycap

That's true. But I think if you are careful enough it should work.
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: modbot on Fri, 17 January 2014, 11:12:11
I've done the drillbit one before but i dont have the exact measurements of it right now, it did work for me. I'd say thats your only current viable option
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 17 January 2014, 11:55:03
u can probably dig out the stem carefully with a box cutter.. jus sayin'
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: C5Allroad on Fri, 17 January 2014, 11:57:49
I did not know that you can pull the stem out of the switch housing....
Anyway, you can try to pry it out with tweezers, or glue a toothpick to it and pull.
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: oiman on Fri, 17 January 2014, 12:29:28
Thanks a lot for all the replies!

I don't really have any experience with de-soldering/soldering and no tools either. Time to get some help and learn!

Where would your order a new switch, I doubt any store has that in stock here unfortunately.
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: kmiller8 on Fri, 17 January 2014, 12:34:17
Thanks a lot for all the replies!

I don't really have any experience with de-soldering/soldering and no tools either. Time to get some help and learn!

Where would your order a new switch, I doubt any store has that in stock here unfortunately.

I have a bunch of extra MX switches lying around, PM me, we can work something out.

As for soldering/de-soldering GL with that, I know of too many new people who destroy their PCB's trying to desolder :x

I'd gladly do it for you for the price of shipping, but that would end up costing like $20+ just to fix one switch.
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 17 January 2014, 18:41:04
u can probably dig out the stem carefully with a box cutter.. jus sayin'

Whilst wearing safety goggles, in case the end of the knife snaps off!
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sat, 18 January 2014, 00:44:48
I did not know that you can pull the stem out of the switch housing....
Anyway, you can try to pry it out with tweezers, or glue a toothpick to it and pull.

He didn't pull it out it broke off. But it is possible to pull stem through switch top if your not careful.


u can probably dig out the stem carefully with a box cutter.. jus sayin'

More than likely this would end up in injury and or damaged key cap.
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: Linkbane on Sat, 18 January 2014, 00:46:34
I did not know that you can pull the stem out of the switch housing....
Anyway, you can try to pry it out with tweezers, or glue a toothpick to it and pull.

He didn't pull it out it broke off. But it is possible to pull stem through switch top if your not careful.


u can probably dig out the stem carefully with a box cutter.. jus sayin'

More than likely this would end up in injury and or damaged key cap.

Two things.
1. Your current picture is perfect for this thread.
8. Congrats on your 8,000th post!
Title: Re: Brown switch stem snapped.
Post by: kenmai9 on Sat, 18 January 2014, 00:49:21
must be a sign.. switch tto clears :)