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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: trenzterra on Fri, 04 November 2016, 19:23:03

Title: Weird sound with new spacebar keycap - do I need to lube?
Post by: trenzterra on Fri, 04 November 2016, 19:23:03

Hi all, I have a Ducky Shine 5 keyboard and I went to buy a set of Tai-hao ABS keycaps for it. The keys are fine, just that the spacebar sounds really weird.... There is this hollow, metallic pinging sound when I press down on it. It doesn't seem to affect any of the other keys.

From what I've read it seems that I need to lube the Cherry stabiliser. However, my issue is that this weird sound doesn't occur with my standard Ducky spacebar or the YOTG spacebar... so I was wondering if the Taihao is the issue and how I can resolve it when the problem lies with the key and not the stabiliser (besides changing to another keycap set).

I am using the doubleshot ABS if that helps. I have checked for warping and any warping is minimal, if at all.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Weird sound with new spacebar keycap - do I need to lube?
Post by: xtrafrood on Fri, 04 November 2016, 19:48:49

Could be a combination of the keycaps and unlubed stabilizer wire. Maybe you can pop a paintbrush in there and see what happens? I could definitely see myself unsoldering an entire keyboard just to lube the spacebar's stabilizers but I'm mildly insane--so there's that.

Here's a bit of Geekhack info regarding the Ducky Shine 5 Stabilizers (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=77623.0)

Title: Re: Weird sound with new spacebar keycap - do I need to lube?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 04 November 2016, 19:57:57

Most likely it's the taihao cap.

It's possible it is rubbing or hitting something differently than the stock caps.

I've never had to lubed any stock cherry stabilizers for this particular issue.

I have a ducky that's picky with spacebars, I think the plate is just fractionally off and the stabilizers are a little tight then when you have caps that are also slightly out of spec you have issues.

Title: Re: Weird sound with new spacebar keycap - do I need to lube?
Post by: trenzterra on Sat, 05 November 2016, 07:55:52

Turns out -- the keycap was probably too thin.

I shoved a piece of paper in the cap, punched a few holes and the feeling of the spacebar is far, far better. Previously it would rattle if I were to wiggle the keycap a little. Now it feels sturdy!

Still, I think I will invest in better quality PBT caps for the long haul.

Title: Re: Weird sound with new spacebar keycap - do I need to lube?
Post by: E3E on Sat, 05 November 2016, 08:28:39

My Jukebox SA space bar sounded hollow on my Octagon v1, the first custom I ever built (and thus didn't have much experience with beforehand), and I used 70 duro O-rings and it fixed that hollow sound right up. Since 70 duro is rather firm, it didn't substantially change the feel either.

Title: Re: Weird sound with new spacebar keycap - do I need to lube?
Post by: bexleycorona on Sat, 05 November 2016, 12:55:50

I'm having a similar problem but probably for different reason.

I switched out the stock keycaps on my Rosewill 9000 board for PBT Ducky keys that I really liked. The spacebar has some play in it and rattles a bit. I suspect it's because the keys are shorter creating more travel. I mean the keys feel thicker than the stock ones and look thicker.

Title: Re: Weird sound with new spacebar keycap - do I need to lube?
Post by: jcoffin1981 on Sun, 06 November 2016, 19:53:50

You can purchase a single space bar to replace this funky one for probably 6-10 dollars.  You can also try flipping the bar around and maybe it won't vibrate/ping so much.  But it seems you found a solution that you are happy with.