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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: ArchDill on Thu, 22 December 2016, 16:38:29

Title: [Help] Crooked switch on recently purchased board.
Post by: ArchDill on Thu, 22 December 2016, 16:38:29
Hello, all. I just purchased a 60% board off of /r/mechmarket and the switch on the enter key is slightly lilted to the left. I have already gotten a hold of the person that I purchased it off of and they were not aware of the problem. Other than they switch/keycap being crooked, the board works just fine so I am not upset or anything. The switch is in a metal plate.I have taken pictures and it is really hard to spot. My OCD is kicking in and I HAVE TO FIX IT! Should I try to de-solder the switch and see if I can fit it in correctly? It has Sip sockets. Will that change anything? Thanks for the help.
Title: Re: [Help] Crooked switch on recently purchased board.
Post by: YoungMichael88 on Thu, 22 December 2016, 16:50:23
If you have a soldering iron which I assume you do, just try reflow that solder joint on that switch and push on the switch while the existing solder is liquid. You should be able to sit the switch properly into place without actually removing solder and re-soldering.
Title: Re: [Help] Crooked switch on recently purchased board.
Post by: ArchDill on Thu, 22 December 2016, 17:55:10
If you have a soldering iron which I assume you do, just try reflow that solder joint on that switch and push on the switch while the existing solder is liquid. You should be able to sit the switch properly into place without actually removing solder and re-soldering.

I will try that. Thank you!
Title: Re: [Help] Crooked switch on recently purchased board.
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 22 December 2016, 20:54:37
Try to do this quick though.'  No more than 3 seconds at a time..   Let it fully cool (10 minutes) before re-attempts

if you hold it there too long,  that's when the plastic inside melts and the leafs inside might become offset.
Title: Re: [Help] Crooked switch on recently purchased board.
Post by: YoungMichael88 on Fri, 23 December 2016, 00:31:13
Try to do this quick though.'  No more than 3 seconds at a time..   Let it fully cool (10 minutes) before re-attempts

if you hold it there too long,  that's when the plastic inside melts and the leafs inside might become offset.
Yes, I should have mentioned this. I've lost the use of a few LEDs on my poker because of this very thing. Rookie mistake
Title: Re: [Help] Crooked switch on recently purchased board.
Post by: ArchDill on Fri, 23 December 2016, 01:33:56
I think I am just going to live with it for a bit until I can get a little more familiar with a soldering iron.

Thanks for the help!
Title: Re: [Help] Crooked switch on recently purchased board.
Post by: suicidal_orange on Fri, 23 December 2016, 02:34:48
It's not hard, just hold the tip on the side of the pin and as soon as the solder melts (you'll see it change colour and shinyness) push the raised side of the switch in.  Then do the other pin to ensure there's no bending pressure on the leaf.
Title: Re: [Help] Crooked switch on recently purchased board.
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 23 December 2016, 05:23:19
I think I am just going to live with it for a bit until I can get a little more familiar with a soldering iron.

Thanks for the help!

if you're worried..  Get a desoldering pump,  just one of those cheap ones, $5 from amazon/ebay, 

if you get it from ebay make sure it ships from USA, or it'd take forever for the China one to ship.



There's no reason to LIVE WITH this problem...   Because even if you screw it up completely,   you can mail it to the nearest geekhacker,  and get it fixed.. hahahahaha





Title: Re: [Help] Crooked switch on recently purchased board.
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 23 December 2016, 05:26:39
You can probably take it to a local electronics shop..   


They will most likely service it for you..  Since the fix in this case is so trivial..  They wouldn't charge you an arm/leg either..

Although if they try to,  Leave, because they're being a **** about it.. it's such a simple fix.