geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: onlyjjp on Tue, 26 August 2014, 09:27:46

Title: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: onlyjjp on Tue, 26 August 2014, 09:27:46: Hello all,
I recently purchased a Choc Mini and bought some O-rings to dampen the sound a bit. Upon trying to take the windows key out, the whole stem came off along with the keycap http://imgur.com/pfbKrCo (http://imgur.com/pfbKrCo)
I have no idea how to put it back on and I need some help. I would greatly appreciate it, thank you!
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 26 August 2014, 09:33:03: You will have to desolder the switch and most likely need to replace it with a new switch and resolder. You might get away with simply reassembling the desoldered switch but it may not work depending on if anything was damaged.
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: onlyjjp on Tue, 26 August 2014, 09:42:53: Is there no other easier way than to desolder? I honestly have no clue how to perform it and even with watching reviews I feel I will be too scared to even test it as this is my first mechanical keyboard.
Would it be an option to just press the stem down from the top? I might just leave it as is since its just the windows key.
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: CPTBadAss on Tue, 26 August 2014, 09:43:46: You can certainly try it but I'm 95% sure you'll have to desolder it.
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: Puddsy on Tue, 26 August 2014, 11:35:28: If it's a plate mounted board (so pretty much any modern board that isn't an OG poker), you will have to desolder, unfortunately. It's a lot easier than you think.
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: Lastpilot on Tue, 26 August 2014, 12:03:56: If you don't know anybody locally who can do it, I'll fix it for free as long as you cover shipping. :]
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: onlyjjp on Tue, 26 August 2014, 14:46:25: Thanks everyone for the replies. It looks as if it is indeed metal plated so the only way is to desolder.
I sent you a PM Lastpilot.
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: onlyjjp on Fri, 05 September 2014, 20:43:44: I just wanted to share my positive experience I had with Lastpilot. One word, AWESOME!
What actually caught me by surprise was besides the fact that he was going to fix my keyboard for free, he offered to install super bright LED's for the CAPSLOCK, NUMLOCK, and SCRLOCK just so it makes it worthwhile for me as I covered the cost of shipping both ways. Not only that, he included a geekhack keycap! ;D These extras did not have to be offered as fixing my keyboard for free was more than I could as for, but he went above and beyond.
He had been very responsive and helpful each step of the way and even sent me pictures of the process(posted below).

(https://i.imgur.com/Fiiq0JC.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/AIMDAdI.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/A2eXsrE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sfpJS9M.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ilSxVKi.jpg)
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: Lastpilot on Fri, 05 September 2014, 20:54:51: I'll be doing free simple fixes for a while, just PM me for now if you need it. Services thread will be opening sometime tomorrow with more details! :]
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 06 September 2014, 04:42:22: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: absyrd on Sat, 06 September 2014, 05:07:28: Quote from: onlyjjp on Fri, 05 September 2014, 20:43:44
I just wanted to share my positive experience I had with Lastpilot. One word, AWESOME!
What actually caught me by surprise was besides the fact that he was going to fix my keyboard for free, he offered to install super bright LED's for the CAPSLOCK, NUMLOCK, and SCRLOCK just so it makes it worthwhile for me as I covered the cost of shipping both ways. Not only that, he included a geekhack keycap! ;D These extras did not have to be offered as fixing my keyboard for free was more than I could as for, but he went above and beyond.
He had been very responsive and helpful each step of the way and even sent me pictures of the process(posted below).

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/Fiiq0JC.jpg)

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/AIMDAdI.jpg)

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/A2eXsrE.jpg)

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/sfpJS9M.jpg)

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/ilSxVKi.jpg)

Wow. Way to go the extra mile, Lastpilot!
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 07 September 2014, 05:15:48: Quote from: absyrd on Sat, 06 September 2014, 05:07:28
Quote from: onlyjjp on Fri, 05 September 2014, 20:43:44
I just wanted to share my positive experience I had with Lastpilot. One word, AWESOME!
What actually caught me by surprise was besides the fact that he was going to fix my keyboard for free, he offered to install super bright LED's for the CAPSLOCK, NUMLOCK, and SCRLOCK just so it makes it worthwhile for me as I covered the cost of shipping both ways. Not only that, he included a geekhack keycap! ;D These extras did not have to be offered as fixing my keyboard for free was more than I could as for, but he went above and beyond.
He had been very responsive and helpful each step of the way and even sent me pictures of the process(posted below).

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/Fiiq0JC.jpg)

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/AIMDAdI.jpg)

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/A2eXsrE.jpg)

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/sfpJS9M.jpg)

Show Image
(https://i.imgur.com/ilSxVKi.jpg)

Wow. Way to go the extra mile, Lastpilot!

+1

Excellent service - but setting the bar high for himself :p
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: absyrd on Sun, 07 September 2014, 09:32:29: Quote from: rowdy on Sun, 07 September 2014, 05:15:48
+1

Excellent service - but setting the bar high for himself :p

Haha. Yeah... be careful or you might get bombarded with requests. :D
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: dorkvader on Sun, 07 September 2014, 13:37:42: he's also way better at taking pictures than I am. Way to go lastpilot!
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 07 September 2014, 20:45:27: So would this qualify Lastpilot for a Maker's badge?
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: Magna224 on Sun, 07 September 2014, 21:48:07: A friend of mine pulled a switch stem right out the top of the switch on a quickfire rapid. I just crammed it back in and it worked fine for the 2 years I had the keyboard. (I think it would be pretty risky to do but I didn't really care and it worked out.) The normal way is desoldering and opening the switch up and putting it back in like everyone has said.
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 08 September 2014, 00:19:04: Quote from: Magna224 on Sun, 07 September 2014, 21:48:07
A friend of mine pulled a switch stem right out the top of the switch on a quickfire rapid. I just crammed it back in and it worked fine for the 2 years I had the keyboard. (I think it would be pretty risky to do but I didn't really care and it worked out.) The normal way is desoldering and opening the switch up and putting it back in like everyone has said.

You can be lucky :)

But there again these are quite small parts involved, and it doesn't take much damage to one part to render the switch useless.
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: henz on Mon, 08 September 2014, 02:13:32: stupid question, but why didnt it work to remove the top cover?
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: kohi on Mon, 08 September 2014, 02:57:07: Quote from: henz on Mon, 08 September 2014, 02:13:32
stupid question, but why didnt it work to remove the top cover?

the switch cover? probably cause it's plate mounted. i think you can only pop it open if it's a pcb mounted switch or if you have a custom plate that allows the top to be removed :)
Title: Re: Please help! Pulled stem right off the switch
Post by: Oobly on Mon, 08 September 2014, 04:45:27: Quote from: hojunski on Mon, 08 September 2014, 02:57:07
Quote from: henz on Mon, 08 September 2014, 02:13:32
stupid question, but why didnt it work to remove the top cover?

the switch cover? probably cause it's plate mounted. i think you can only pop it open if it's a pcb mounted switch or if you have a custom plate that allows the top to be removed :)

^^This. Normal plate mounted boards don't have cutouts in the plate around the switch to allow you to remove the switch tops, so you have to desolder the switch and remove it from the plate / PCB assembly in order top open it.