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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Ordloh on Mon, 26 May 2014, 11:07:43

Title: cherry stem popped out
Post by: Ordloh on Mon, 26 May 2014, 11:07:43

yanked a SP keycap off a cherry clear stem and the slider popped out of the casing. what surprised me is that the whole keyboard is unresponsive now. it's a 38GT pcb and nothing seems to work. before I replace the broken switch, i wanted to ask if this is normal or have I somehow damaged the whole pcb?
Thanks

Title: Re: cherry stem popped out
Post by: Defect on Mon, 26 May 2014, 11:13:04

Pictures would help with a diagnosis.

I've ripped clear stems about before.  Just had to put the switch together again and I was fine.

Title: Re: cherry stem popped out
Post by: gir489 on Tue, 27 May 2014, 15:40:08

I did that to the Cherry MX Red keyboard I had. It was just that the side without the LED came up a little, I put the stem and spring back in, and pushed the black side piece back down and it was OK.

Title: Re: cherry stem popped out
Post by: Oobly on Wed, 28 May 2014, 08:14:14

With the slider out, the switch is "on" all the time. Depending on the keyboard this could cause it to not respond. Clears have the tightest stems for some reason. I always cycle caps on and off a loose Clear before mounting them if they're going onto Clears on a board so they won't be too hard to remove later.

If you can get the top cover off you can just put the slider back and put the top back on. You may have to desolder the switch, though, if the plate doesn't allow the switch top to be removed.