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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mrhead on Thu, 14 July 2016, 10:16:55

Title: Score on ebay - Model M (not working)
Post by: mrhead on Thu, 14 July 2016, 10:16:55
I took a chance on this auction - offered $15 and the seller agreed.  Package arrived yesterday - confirmed most keys weren't working.  Auction stated that it would 'power on' but does not work.

[attach=2]

As you can see from the auction images, it was pretty dirty but complete.  I found that while about 20% of the keys responded, there was definitely something wrong.  I took it apart, cleaned it up and reseated the connections.  Behold, everything works perfectly.  Turns out the mylar sheet had come out of the sockets (most likely due to the plastic heat welds (rivets) breaking apart).

Here it is all cleaned up and working - there is very little wear on the keys - definitely happy with my purchase!

[attach=1]
Title: Re: Score on ebay - Model M (not working)
Post by: romevi on Thu, 14 July 2016, 10:18:18
I took a chance on this auction - offered $15 and the seller agreed.  Package arrived yesterday - confirmed most keys weren't working.  Auction stated that it would 'power on' but does not work.

(Attachment Link)

As you can see from the auction images, it was pretty dirty but complete.  I found that while about 20% of the keys responded, there was definitely something wrong.  I took it apart, cleaned it up and reseated the connections.  Behold, everything works perfectly.  Turns out the mylar sheet had come out of the sockets (most likely due to the plastic heat welds (rivets) breaking apart).

Here it is all cleaned up and working - there is very little wear on the keys - definitely happy with my purchase!

(Attachment Link)

Nice one!
Title: Re: Score on ebay - Model M (not working)
Post by: chyros on Thu, 14 July 2016, 10:31:48
Yeah, the membrane connector unseating is a common cause of problems for these boards. Glad you got it working in the end, another one saved :) .
Title: Re: Score on ebay - Model M (not working)
Post by: fohat.digs on Thu, 14 July 2016, 10:39:28
Lucky you!

You got one of those long cords, too. What were they thinking?
Title: Re: Score on ebay - Model M (not working)
Post by: chyros on Thu, 14 July 2016, 11:01:28
Is it one of the 3 m ones? I have one like that, and the coils on that have stretched a fair bit as well - it's ENORMOUS now xD . Definitely keeping it around, you never know when you need to long-range your M 8) .
Title: Re: Score on ebay - Model M (not working)
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 15 July 2016, 06:08:42
Nice acquisition - congratulations :)

With a little work most Model M seem to come back to life just fine, and probably last for another 20 years!
Title: Re: Score on ebay - Model M (not working)
Post by: mrhead on Fri, 15 July 2016, 09:54:31
Thanks everyone!  Yes, it's a rather long cord.  I admit I stretched it a bit (in the process of removing the filth/grime from the cord).  It's defintely a 3m cord.

My wife has gone from, "Why are you getting these keyboards with no number pad?" to "Why are you getting these old keyboards?".  I can't wait to show her the banana box (from another thread).
Title: Re: Score on ebay - Model M (not working)
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 16 July 2016, 05:53:11
Thanks everyone!  Yes, it's a rather long cord.  I admit I stretched it a bit (in the process of removing the filth/grime from the cord).  It's defintely a 3m cord.

My wife has gone from, "Why are you getting these keyboards with no number pad?" to "Why are you getting these old keyboards?".  I can't wait to show her the banana box (from another thread).

Next up is "Why are you getting these noisy keyboards".
Title: Re: Score on ebay - Model M (not working)
Post by: mrhead on Thu, 21 July 2016, 13:35:12
That was actually the initial question when I got my keyboard with blues.