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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: AgentZen on Fri, 04 March 2016, 21:06:13

Title: New keyboard with Modern Selectric, backspace seems stiff, posts seem off. Fix?
Post by: AgentZen on Fri, 04 March 2016, 21:06:13

Been a few years since I messed with keyboards and wanted to spend a bit of money so I picked up a KUL ES 87 w/ clears and the Modern Selectric (SA) keycap set. Keyboard is brand new, and keycaps were sold as being never used.

Anyway, just installed the keys today and everything seems great except for the backspace key. The backspace seems stiffer to press than any other key, almost as if there is a bit of friction when pressing - not a lot- but enough to be noticeable. Looking at the posts on the bottom of the key, it looks like the outside posts are just a bit further out on the key than they are on the keyboard. I'm guessing that would be the problem. Is it? Is there a fix for this, or will it "wear in" at some point? Is it common?

Thanks

Side note for anyone familiar with SA sets: Are the arrow keys interchangeable? They seem to all be the same shape.

Title: Re: New keyboard with Modern Selectric, backspace seems stiff, posts seem off. Fix?
Post by: digi on Fri, 04 March 2016, 21:09:30

Most likely the stabilizer, take the keycap off and pull the little black stab inserts up and down, do they bind at all?

Title: Re: New keyboard with Modern Selectric, backspace seems stiff, posts seem off. Fix?
Post by: AgentZen on Fri, 04 March 2016, 21:14:16

I guess the stabalizers aren't springed? I had to use my keycap puller to pinch them and move them up and down, but there doesn't appear to be much friction, and definitely no binding.

Title: Re: New keyboard with Modern Selectric, backspace seems stiff, posts seem off. Fix?
Post by: digi on Fri, 04 March 2016, 21:15:11

Quote from: AgentZen on Fri, 04 March 2016, 21:14:16

I guess the stabalizers aren't springed? I had to use my keycap puller to pinch them and move them up and down, but there doesn't appear to be much friction, and definitely no binding.

Do you have another backspace cap to try maybe? If it's a brand new board, then you're probably right, could be something with the keycap..

Title: Re: New keyboard with Modern Selectric, backspace seems stiff, posts seem off. Fix?
Post by: AgentZen on Fri, 04 March 2016, 21:20:02

Yeah the stock backspace works fine. Comparing the posts on the two, they looks damn close to my naked eye, but there may be a very slight difference in one of the outside posts. I wonder if that is a possible problem with keys? I guess anything can happen. It's slight enough that I may just try to see if it works it's self in a bit.

Title: Re: New keyboard with Modern Selectric, backspace seems stiff, posts seem off. Fix?
Post by: digi on Fri, 04 March 2016, 21:21:57

I wonder if the stem on the bottom of the cap is too thick, possibly binding with the switch cover or something. That would be easy to fix..

Title: Re: New keyboard with Modern Selectric, backspace seems stiff, posts seem off. Fix?
Post by: AgentZen on Fri, 04 March 2016, 23:11:04

Good tip, ill take a look.