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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Nkrlz on Sun, 18 June 2017, 16:00:02

Title: [HELP] IBM model M trace dead.
Post by: Nkrlz on Sun, 18 June 2017, 16:00:02
Hello, i'm new here, i discovered this page after discovering my 29 y/o Model M (part number 1391401) had half a row of keys dead. After googling a bit i'm sure my dead keys are a product of a faulty trace. My dead keys are

(http://i.imgur.com/urCTN2H.png)

And after looking for any explanation i found a handy guide for the nut and bolt mod which showed me the traces which lead me to conclude that one trace died

(http://i.imgur.com/9EyGmx5.jpg)

So now come a couple of questions, how hard is to replace the membrame with a new one by Unicomp? It's easy to dissasemble a Unicomp keyboard? (becasue i though about buying one and simply using the new internals with my outer shell, because i really like the look of the old IBM platic, and it's logo)
Title: Re: [HELP] IBM model M trace dead.
Post by: chyros on Sun, 18 June 2017, 16:29:37
Are you sure it's not just oxidation of one of the traces? Could even be ribbonside, you might not have had to take it apart. Gently rub off any black bits with a rubber.
Title: Re: [HELP] IBM model M trace dead.
Post by: klennkellon on Sun, 18 June 2017, 16:42:23
Are you sure it's not just oxidation of one of the traces? Could even be ribbonside, you might not have had to take it apart. Gently rub off any black bits with a rubber.
Definitely try this.

If it doesn't work you can just buy a new membrane from Unicomp.
Title: Re: [HELP] IBM model M trace dead.
Post by: Nkrlz on Sun, 18 June 2017, 16:53:17
I hope it's something like that, but because there is no way of accesing the membrane without destroying the ribbons holding the back plate i thought i would ask about replacing it from the get go. I mean it can be the ribbon connector becasue the same trace continues through a couple more keysbefore reaching the connector and those work.

Also the ones manufactured in Mexico are as reliable as the ones made in the USA? (because i kept searching, and found new old stock from '93 made in méxico, and it's also sold in my country so no shipping, sadly it's a spanish keyboard so it's not as iconic but i'm quite used to them :P).