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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: antCB on Sat, 15 February 2014, 22:53:24

Title: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: antCB on Sat, 15 February 2014, 22:53:24: Hello guys and girls(not really), I'm new here in the forums, and although I knew about this I never thought I would register :P I do like mechanical keyboards, but since it is expensive stuff, specially for a student, I only own one and an entry model at that :)

Last night while taking the keycaps of my Steelseries 6GV2 for cleaning, I busted up one of the switches.. that happened because the little "hammer" (the plastic thing with a + "sign" that holds the keycap) was "glued" together with the keycap and I couldn't put it back together :(

Is all my hope gone, or is the fix a simple matter of ordering a new switch, take the old one out and soldering the new one onto the board ?

It is the "regular" Cherry MX black Steelseries 6GV2
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: Pacifist on Sat, 15 February 2014, 22:58:33: Desolder resolder is your best option
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: luis911 on Sat, 15 February 2014, 23:00:24: Quote from: antCB on Sat, 15 February 2014, 22:53:24
Hello guys and girls(not really), I'm new here in the forums, and although I knew about this I never thought I would register :P I do like mechanical keyboards, but since it is expensive stuff, specially for a student, I only own one and an entry model at that :)

Last night while taking the keycaps of my Steelseries 6GV2 for cleaning, I busted up one of the switches.. that happened because the little "hammer" (the plastic thing with a + "sign" that holds the keycap) was "glued" together with the keycap and I couldn't put it back together :(

Is all my hope gone, or is the fix a simple matter of ordering a new switch, take the old one out and soldering the new one onto the board ?

It is the "regular" Cherry MX black Steelseries 6GV2
Can you take a pic so that we can see the damage?
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: antCB on Sat, 15 February 2014, 23:21:22: Here it is pic (http://i.imgur.com/lXe0qRC.jpg).
I really think my only bet is to desolder resolder :(

What's the best place to order from ? Mind you I'm from Portugal, so I'd like to avoid ordering from the US, China, etc. I'd like to keep it within Europe (so I don't waste too much money in this) :P

thanks in advance
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: luis911 on Sat, 15 February 2014, 23:25:19: Quote from: antCB on Sat, 15 February 2014, 23:21:22
Here it is pic (http://i.imgur.com/lXe0qRC.jpg).
I really think my only bet is to desolder resolder :(

What's the best place to order from ? Mind you I'm from Portugal, so I'd like to avoid ordering from the US, China, etc. I'd like to keep it within Europe (so I don't waste too much money in this) :P

thanks in advance

You can probably buy the stem, top cover, and spring, and replace those parts without removing the switch. I can't tell if the bottom cover is broken or not.
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: Pacifist on Sat, 15 February 2014, 23:28:23: Can you stuff the top cover into housing that has a plate like that?

Best option is just to desolder and resolder. Go to the free stuff thread in classifieds and I'm sure someone in EU would give you a black for free
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: Zeal on Sat, 15 February 2014, 23:32:41: I'm surprised that you were able to break the switch cover from pulling the keycap. :eek: If you're confident with desoldering/soldering, your best option would be to desolder that switch and replace it with a new black switch.
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: antCB on Sun, 16 February 2014, 00:03:54: Quote from: Pacifist on Sat, 15 February 2014, 23:28:23
Can you stuff the top cover into housing that has a plate like that?
nope, I tried using a tweezers to open up the housing and I busted up the top part of the housing (it has some sort of swivel mechanism) :\ meh. should've not messed around with it... worst part is that the shift key got "stuck".. if it didn't I wouldn't try to "fix" it..
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: 1pq on Sun, 16 February 2014, 00:21:32: Quote from: luis911 on Sat, 15 February 2014, 23:25:19
Quote from: antCB on Sat, 15 February 2014, 23:21:22
Here it is pic (http://i.imgur.com/lXe0qRC.jpg).
I really think my only bet is to desolder resolder :(

What's the best place to order from ? Mind you I'm from Portugal, so I'd like to avoid ordering from the US, China, etc. I'd like to keep it within Europe (so I don't waste too much money in this) :P

thanks in advance

You can probably buy the stem, top cover, and spring, and replace those parts without removing the switch. I can't tell if the bottom cover is broken or not.

I'm not sure if he'd be able to get the cover on again, though, since it's a plate mounted board...
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: luis911 on Sun, 16 February 2014, 00:29:15: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHERRY-MX-Series-Keyswitches-Black-Keyboards-Switches-ORIGINAL-/120951918447?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c294bcf6f
(http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHERRY-MX-Series-Keyswitches-Black-Keyboards-Switches-ORIGINAL-/120951918447?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c294bcf6f)
Alright here you go. Thank me later.
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: Pacifist on Sun, 16 February 2014, 00:30:50: Quote from: luis911 on Sun, 16 February 2014, 00:29:15
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHERRY-MX-Series-Keyswitches-Black-Keyboards-Switches-ORIGINAL-/120951918447?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c294bcf6f
(http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHERRY-MX-Series-Keyswitches-Black-Keyboards-Switches-ORIGINAL-/120951918447?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c294bcf6f)
Alright here you go. Thank me later.

That's extremely overpriced. A black switch is worth 30 cents max since its so common
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: luis911 on Sun, 16 February 2014, 00:33:32: Quote from: Pacifist on Sun, 16 February 2014, 00:30:50
Quote from: luis911 on Sun, 16 February 2014, 00:29:15
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHERRY-MX-Series-Keyswitches-Black-Keyboards-Switches-ORIGINAL-/120951918447?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c294bcf6f
(http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHERRY-MX-Series-Keyswitches-Black-Keyboards-Switches-ORIGINAL-/120951918447?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c294bcf6f)
Alright here you go. Thank me later.

That's extremely overpriced. A black switch is worth 30 cents max since its so common

Link? he's in europe too so any US shops might not be convenient for him.
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: Pacifist on Sun, 16 February 2014, 01:02:31: Quote from: luis911 on Sun, 16 February 2014, 00:33:32
Quote from: Pacifist on Sun, 16 February 2014, 00:30:50
Quote from: luis911 on Sun, 16 February 2014, 00:29:15
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHERRY-MX-Series-Keyswitches-Black-Keyboards-Switches-ORIGINAL-/120951918447?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c294bcf6f
(http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHERRY-MX-Series-Keyswitches-Black-Keyboards-Switches-ORIGINAL-/120951918447?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c294bcf6f)
Alright here you go. Thank me later.

That's extremely overpriced. A black switch is worth 30 cents max since its so common

Link? he's in europe too so any US shops might not be convenient for him.

Don't have a specific link, but here in classifieds people sell them dirt cheap when they scavenge old Cherry boards for switches.
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: margo baggins on Sun, 16 February 2014, 01:48:36: Where in the EU are you?

Are you in the UK? I can either send you a black switch, or you can send me the board and I will fix it free you just pay postage.
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: antCB on Sun, 16 February 2014, 02:01:58: I'm from Portugal, i'd love to replace this switch asap :)
What do I need to PM you with? Do you need me to pay the postage expense from uk to portugal ?

thanks
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: margo baggins on Sun, 16 February 2014, 02:06:45: PM me your address
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: antCB on Sun, 16 February 2014, 02:25:44: done, thank you margo!
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: antCB on Fri, 21 February 2014, 10:33:16: [BUMP] Problem solved! [/BUMP]

pic of soldering work :) (http://i.imgur.com/uZHvAKv.jpg)

Thank you enosdan for the goods you provided me.

Margo, thanks for coming forward to help, but enosdan covered that ! :)
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: berserkfan on Sat, 22 February 2014, 00:10:10: well done! we are a very friendly community!
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: exitfire401 on Sat, 22 February 2014, 01:28:13: Good to see you got the necessary help so quickly!
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: antCB on Sat, 22 February 2014, 01:34:48: this is one community i'll keep tabs on :) there's so much things I pay attention too that don't deserve 1/10 of my attention... might be getting a GH board near summer time :) (for the northern hemisphere :P)
Title: Re: [help pls] Busted a switch in my keyboard..
Post by: CatNip :3 on Sun, 23 February 2014, 02:09:48: It's great your keyboard is repaired. :D