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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: 1391406 on Thu, 20 October 2016, 12:26:26

Title: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: 1391406 on Thu, 20 October 2016, 12:26:26
I've been using a Realforce 87U for awhile now and the only thing I didn't like about it was the space bar rattle. Mind you, I've been using the stock ABS space bar. Long story short, after replacing it with a PBT space bar, the rattle is totally gone.

Just thought I'd share.
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: Moistgun on Thu, 20 October 2016, 12:29:02
I've been using a Realforce 87U for awhile now and the only thing I didn't like about it was the space bar rattle. Mind you, I've been using the stock ABS space bar. Long story short, after replacing it with a PBT space bar, the rattle is totally gone.

Just thought I'd share.

3 more posts till youre leet bub.

also, interested to hear others input on rattling and using pbt bars. specifically that new wave of massdrop bar
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: 1391406 on Thu, 20 October 2016, 12:31:12
I've been using a Realforce 87U for awhile now and the only thing I didn't like about it was the space bar rattle. Mind you, I've been using the stock ABS space bar. Long story short, after replacing it with a PBT space bar, the rattle is totally gone.

Just thought I'd share.

3 more posts till youre leet bub.

also, interested to hear others input on rattling and using pbt bars. specifically that new wave of massdrop bar

The one I used was included with my 104U from Massdrop, by the way.
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: y11971alex on Thu, 20 October 2016, 13:03:28
But the rattle is what makes the spacebar unique.  :p

And I've spent my month's keyboard budget on my F122 and 3278, so RF will have to wait  :(
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: Corsa1r on Thu, 20 October 2016, 14:37:44
Omgsh, I recently eliminated spacebar rattle on my Type-S totally as well by just squirting and working around some thick lube down the plastic plungers that lead to the stabilizer bar underneath (and also switching to a pbt spacebar).
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: iLLucionist on Thu, 20 October 2016, 15:23:37
I've been using a Realforce 87U for awhile now and the only thing I didn't like about it was the space bar rattle. Mind you, I've been using the stock ABS space bar. Long story short, after replacing it with a PBT space bar, the rattle is totally gone.

Just thought I'd share.

Only if I could actually BUY ONE. MD only has 'em with a 104 attached. DON'T WANT.
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: 1391406 on Thu, 20 October 2016, 16:36:44
I've been using a Realforce 87U for awhile now and the only thing I didn't like about it was the space bar rattle. Mind you, I've been using the stock ABS space bar. Long story short, after replacing it with a PBT space bar, the rattle is totally gone.

Just thought I'd share.

Only if I could actually BUY ONE. MD only has 'em with a 104 attached. DON'T WANT.

There's an eBay seller from Asia offering PBT space bars (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topre-Realforce-HHKB-PBT-Blank-Space-bar-Key-caps-For-Capacitive-Keyboard-/182288461818?var=&hash=item2a713d2ffa:m:mOl6yBTNA3SgaMF8u-IoDTg) with 100% positive feedback. There's also this (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topre-Realforce-HHKB-PBT-Blank-Space-bar-Keycaps-For-Capacitive-Keyboard-New-/152257168889?var=&hash=item23733c05f9:m:mhGFTsQtECr4siWWHCIji4Q) seller from Hong Kong. Lastly, Aliexpress (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/PBT-Space-Keycap-for-Topre-realforce-hhkb-Electrostatic-capacity-Keyboard/32711924785.html?spm=2114.30010308.3.31.EMzYVX&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_116_10065_117_10068_114_115_10069_113_10084_10083_10017_10080_10082_10081_10060_10061_10062_10056_10055_10054_10059_10078_10079_10073_10070_421_420_10052_10053_10050_10051,searchweb201603_6&btsid=61bb5df4-0ce7-4459-8744-368b05826383) has them, though the price is a bit higher.
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: iLLucionist on Thu, 20 October 2016, 18:53:58
I've been using a Realforce 87U for awhile now and the only thing I didn't like about it was the space bar rattle. Mind you, I've been using the stock ABS space bar. Long story short, after replacing it with a PBT space bar, the rattle is totally gone.

Just thought I'd share.

Only if I could actually BUY ONE. MD only has 'em with a 104 attached. DON'T WANT.

There's an eBay seller from Asia offering PBT space bars (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topre-Realforce-HHKB-PBT-Blank-Space-bar-Key-caps-For-Capacitive-Keyboard-/182288461818?var=&hash=item2a713d2ffa:m:mOl6yBTNA3SgaMF8u-IoDTg) with 100% positive feedback. There's also this (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topre-Realforce-HHKB-PBT-Blank-Space-bar-Keycaps-For-Capacitive-Keyboard-New-/152257168889?var=&hash=item23733c05f9:m:mhGFTsQtECr4siWWHCIji4Q) seller from Hong Kong. Lastly, Aliexpress (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/PBT-Space-Keycap-for-Topre-realforce-hhkb-Electrostatic-capacity-Keyboard/32711924785.html?spm=2114.30010308.3.31.EMzYVX&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_116_10065_117_10068_114_115_10069_113_10084_10083_10017_10080_10082_10081_10060_10061_10062_10056_10055_10054_10059_10078_10079_10073_10070_421_420_10052_10053_10050_10051,searchweb201603_6&btsid=61bb5df4-0ce7-4459-8744-368b05826383) has them, though the price is a bit higher.

That is really genius, thanks! Any idea whether the spacebars are warped? I heard there were some issues, not with PBT in general, but specifically with Topre PBT spacebars.
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: 1391406 on Thu, 20 October 2016, 19:29:27
I've been using a Realforce 87U for awhile now and the only thing I didn't like about it was the space bar rattle. Mind you, I've been using the stock ABS space bar. Long story short, after replacing it with a PBT space bar, the rattle is totally gone.

Just thought I'd share.

Only if I could actually BUY ONE. MD only has 'em with a 104 attached. DON'T WANT.

There's an eBay seller from Asia offering PBT space bars (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topre-Realforce-HHKB-PBT-Blank-Space-bar-Key-caps-For-Capacitive-Keyboard-/182288461818?var=&hash=item2a713d2ffa:m:mOl6yBTNA3SgaMF8u-IoDTg) with 100% positive feedback. There's also this (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topre-Realforce-HHKB-PBT-Blank-Space-bar-Keycaps-For-Capacitive-Keyboard-New-/152257168889?var=&hash=item23733c05f9:m:mhGFTsQtECr4siWWHCIji4Q) seller from Hong Kong. Lastly, Aliexpress (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/PBT-Space-Keycap-for-Topre-realforce-hhkb-Electrostatic-capacity-Keyboard/32711924785.html?spm=2114.30010308.3.31.EMzYVX&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_116_10065_117_10068_114_115_10069_113_10084_10083_10017_10080_10082_10081_10060_10061_10062_10056_10055_10054_10059_10078_10079_10073_10070_421_420_10052_10053_10050_10051,searchweb201603_6&btsid=61bb5df4-0ce7-4459-8744-368b05826383) has them, though the price is a bit higher.

That is really genius, thanks! Any idea whether the spacebars are warped? I heard there were some issues, not with PBT in general, but specifically with Topre PBT spacebars.

Someone on the forum was complaining about a warped space bar they'd received from a Chinese seller recently, but I can't remember which thread that was in. I did look at the feedback for the first seller and he has 100% feedback with 4 positives specifically from buyers who bought those space bars, so it's very possible that the space bar the poster received was from a different seller, atypical or possibly both.
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: iLLucionist on Thu, 20 October 2016, 19:38:35
I've been using a Realforce 87U for awhile now and the only thing I didn't like about it was the space bar rattle. Mind you, I've been using the stock ABS space bar. Long story short, after replacing it with a PBT space bar, the rattle is totally gone.

Just thought I'd share.

Only if I could actually BUY ONE. MD only has 'em with a 104 attached. DON'T WANT.

There's an eBay seller from Asia offering PBT space bars (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topre-Realforce-HHKB-PBT-Blank-Space-bar-Key-caps-For-Capacitive-Keyboard-/182288461818?var=&hash=item2a713d2ffa:m:mOl6yBTNA3SgaMF8u-IoDTg) with 100% positive feedback. There's also this (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topre-Realforce-HHKB-PBT-Blank-Space-bar-Keycaps-For-Capacitive-Keyboard-New-/152257168889?var=&hash=item23733c05f9:m:mhGFTsQtECr4siWWHCIji4Q) seller from Hong Kong. Lastly, Aliexpress (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/PBT-Space-Keycap-for-Topre-realforce-hhkb-Electrostatic-capacity-Keyboard/32711924785.html?spm=2114.30010308.3.31.EMzYVX&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_116_10065_117_10068_114_115_10069_113_10084_10083_10017_10080_10082_10081_10060_10061_10062_10056_10055_10054_10059_10078_10079_10073_10070_421_420_10052_10053_10050_10051,searchweb201603_6&btsid=61bb5df4-0ce7-4459-8744-368b05826383) has them, though the price is a bit higher.

That is really genius, thanks! Any idea whether the spacebars are warped? I heard there were some issues, not with PBT in general, but specifically with Topre PBT spacebars.

Someone on the forum was complaining about a warped space bar they'd received from a Chinese seller recently, but I can't remember which thread that was in. I did look at the feedback for the first seller and he has 100% feedback with 4 positives specifically from buyers who bought those space bars, so it's very possible that the space bar the poster received was from a different seller, atypical or possibly both.

Thanks again! I'll look into that. My spacebar is really getting shiiineey..
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: Bucake on Fri, 21 October 2016, 14:15:54
those are significantly more warped than the ones from matt3o's mass drop.
i mean.. http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/sP8AAOSwmfhX6r6A/s-l1600.jpg
that's not how mine look.

as for rattle, mine are still somewhat noisy, even after adding some lube.
it's not crazy loud or anything, but compared to the non-stabilized keys, there's definitely some extra noise that i one day hope to get rid of
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: 1391406 on Fri, 21 October 2016, 15:15:12
those are significantly more warped than the ones from matt3o's mass drop.
i mean.. http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/sP8AAOSwmfhX6r6A/s-l1600.jpg
that's not how mine look.

They don't sit flush because the stem juts out slightly from the bottom:
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: Bucake on Fri, 21 October 2016, 15:45:48
lol. makes sense.
disregard what i said i guess :D

cheers
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: Hypersphere on Fri, 21 October 2016, 16:20:04
@1391406: Thanks for sharing the information. I was previously unaware of the eBay sellers. Wish I had known about this before the most recent Massdrop sale of Topre PBT spacebars!

Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: 1391406 on Fri, 21 October 2016, 16:45:11
@1391406: Thanks for sharing the information. I was previously unaware of the eBay sellers. Wish I had known about this before the most recent Massdrop sale of Topre PBT spacebars!

I got in on the 104U Silent with 4 PBT space bars from Massdrop some time back, otherwise I'd order some from eBay myself.
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: Erikdayo on Fri, 21 October 2016, 17:35:33
I've been using a Realforce 87U for awhile now and the only thing I didn't like about it was the space bar rattle. Mind you, I've been using the stock ABS space bar. Long story short, after replacing it with a PBT space bar, the rattle is totally gone.

Just thought I'd share.

Only if I could actually BUY ONE. MD only has 'em with a 104 attached. DON'T WANT.

There's an eBay seller from Asia offering PBT space bars (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topre-Realforce-HHKB-PBT-Blank-Space-bar-Key-caps-For-Capacitive-Keyboard-/182288461818?var=&hash=item2a713d2ffa:m:mOl6yBTNA3SgaMF8u-IoDTg) with 100% positive feedback. There's also this (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Topre-Realforce-HHKB-PBT-Blank-Space-bar-Keycaps-For-Capacitive-Keyboard-New-/152257168889?var=&hash=item23733c05f9:m:mhGFTsQtECr4siWWHCIji4Q) seller from Hong Kong. Lastly, Aliexpress (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/PBT-Space-Keycap-for-Topre-realforce-hhkb-Electrostatic-capacity-Keyboard/32711924785.html?spm=2114.30010308.3.31.EMzYVX&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_116_10065_117_10068_114_115_10069_113_10084_10083_10017_10080_10082_10081_10060_10061_10062_10056_10055_10054_10059_10078_10079_10073_10070_421_420_10052_10053_10050_10051,searchweb201603_6&btsid=61bb5df4-0ce7-4459-8744-368b05826383) has them, though the price is a bit higher.

That is really genius, thanks! Any idea whether the spacebars are warped? I heard there were some issues, not with PBT in general, but specifically with Topre PBT spacebars.

Someone on the forum was complaining about a warped space bar they'd received from a Chinese seller recently, but I can't remember which thread that was in. I did look at the feedback for the first seller and he has 100% feedback with 4 positives specifically from buyers who bought those space bars, so it's very possible that the space bar the poster received was from a different seller, atypical or possibly both.
My spacebar is very warped from an eBay seller. I can take pictures later, but I plan on trying to fix it with a hair dryer as suggested.

It's not bent up or down on mine. The ends are bent forward.

In addition the off white doesn't match my keyboard very well as the 660C 'white' keys are very beige. But that isn't the seller's fault. If the hair dryer trick works I'll probably order a different color one sometime.
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: Hypersphere on Fri, 21 October 2016, 18:14:13
I am surprised that swapping out the ABS spacebar with a PBT one eliminated the spacebar rattle. The simple swap did not eliminate spacebar rattle on my RF87U or HHKB. However, I was able to virtually eliminate spacebar rattle by swapping ABS with PBT, installing a Silencing Ring on the spacebar switch, installing foam pads under the spacebar, and lubing the spacebar stabilizers and spacebar switch guide rails. I used Superlube grease for the stabilizers and Superlube 51010 oil for the switch guide rails.
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: s0nia on Sun, 23 October 2016, 20:28:52
Same experience here! Rattle totally gone on the HHKB and replaced a sweet deep thock. On the 87U however, reasonably deep thock replaced with loud unpleasant clang...
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: pr0ximity on Sun, 23 October 2016, 20:54:57
Stock spacebar didn't rattle, Massdrop PBT rattles like crazy.

I wish I was as lucky as all of you.
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 24 October 2016, 00:51:55
space bar rattle,  space bar grinding,  space bar mushy-ness,

almost all of the problems are due to the space bar being warped.. or the stems being mis-molded .
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: 1391406 on Mon, 24 October 2016, 02:52:56
Same experience here! Rattle totally gone on the HHKB and replaced a sweet deep thock. On the 87U however, reasonably deep thock replaced with loud unpleasant clang...

On the 87U, turn the space bar around and try putting it on backwards.
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: 1391406 on Mon, 24 October 2016, 06:30:36
space bar rattle,  space bar grinding,  space bar mushy-ness,

almost all of the problems are due to the space bar being warped.. or the stems being mis-molded .


Rattle is typical of the Topre ABS space bars, in my opinion.
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: billm on Thu, 10 May 2018, 02:36:34
Yeah I've had an 86u for years. It's gotten to the point that I almost can't use it anymore because of the tapping from the space bar. It's efffing maddening. 
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: Polymer on Thu, 10 May 2018, 04:23:54
Pull the space and put it back...it will often fix the problem...

Or get one of the PBT ones..for whatever reason - they're more warped or maybe the stabilizer slots fit the stabilizer better (which make them really hard to take off), it seems to help some of the clinkiness of spacebar..
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: bizzy11 on Thu, 10 May 2018, 11:08:16
Hm I've never noticed any space rattle with the Leopold boards. Is this only for Realforce/HHKB?

I bought the 10x 6u pbt spacebars from KBDfans and don't experience any rattle with those either. Every single one I was sent were not warped at all.
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: billm on Thu, 10 May 2018, 12:09:52
I'd love a pbt spacebar, but mine is an 86u and the spacebar is 7u topre mount. Doe's that even exist?

Regarding leopold. I have no problems on my FC660c, nor on my novatouch. Seems only a topre prob. It's basically why I bought the leopold and put the realforce aside. Then I bought the novatouch to put 7bit caps on, but I'd still like to resurrect the realforce. It's awesome aside from the spacebar.

I think the problem does have something to do with the abs spacebar and the fact that its warped.

I may end up just trying to replace the sliders with those cherry compatible ones from ebay, along with some 3d printed stabs. It can't get much worse.
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: MandrewDavis on Fri, 11 May 2018, 04:47:05
I'd love a pbt spacebar, but mine is an 86u and the spacebar is 7u topre mount. Doe's that even exist?

Regarding leopold. I have no problems on my FC660c, nor on my novatouch. Seems only a topre prob. It's basically why I bought the leopold and put the realforce aside. Then I bought the novatouch to put 7bit caps on, but I'd still like to resurrect the realforce. It's awesome aside from the spacebar.

I think the problem does have something to do with the abs spacebar and the fact that its warped.

I may end up just trying to replace the sliders with those cherry compatible ones from ebay, along with some 3d printed stabs. It can't get much worse.

Just sayin, the 7u Topre spacebars have the stabilizer location as a 6u spacebar. I remember this from reading PerniciousPony's 86u build log with MX sliders https://imgur.com/7sfEXEa
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: billm on Fri, 11 May 2018, 11:25:21
yeah I couldn't quite figure out if he was talking about an 87u or an 86u with that. No matter. I can mold up a hack like PerniciousPony did.

Also my 86u doesn't look like his in the photos here:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=93875.0

It's unclear to me what he did to put that board together. mine also has the variable weighting as he mentions down in the thread. Pinky keys are 35g, ring finger 45g, and index 55g. This was the big selling point of this board when I bought it a decade or so ago. Topre has stopped doing that eh?
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: Polymer on Fri, 11 May 2018, 13:15:42
I think the problem does have something to do with the abs spacebar and the fact that its warped.

They're ABS so they're not warped...that's why they're not stock PBT...apparently because the quality they go while trying to make it PBT like the rest of the keys was unacceptable...

Every single PBT spacebar I've had for Topre was warped..just needed a hair dryer to heat it up to get it straight...
Title: Re: Topre space bar rattle? Gone.
Post by: billm on Fri, 11 May 2018, 14:19:20
Does abs never warp? What seems wrong with this spacebar is that the left side is slightly higher than the right. The 'tick tick tick" sound when you tap on it is maddening. I've stuffed some foam up in there to mitigate it but its far from perfect.