IBM Model M2 Plastic Snaps Holding The PCB Board Broken.

[_64]

Hello Everyone! I've been using this forum for a while now but never actually registered/posted anything so this is my first post. 

Anyhow so the usual problem happened with my M2. All the buttons stopped working and only the indicators were lighting up.
Which lead to me using this here to fix the capacitor problem. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=5065.0

But now another problem occurred. Since this keyboard is famously for being very hard to open, in the process i accidently broke the plastic snaps, the ones holding the pcb board and all the other circuit plates together.



Normally it should look like this.



The problem is that the pcb board barely has contact with the circuit plates which means no button presses will ever register.

I already thought of hot gluing but it seems way too risky. Anyone who has some suggestions and could help me?

[mike52787]

Wow, never seen those particular snaps broken, when I disassembled my m2 and recapped the controller I didnt remove it. Maybe you can put a bolt through an area on the pcb with no traces and secure it to the case that way? that should hold pressure between the membrane and the pcb.

[emdude]

If you are careful, then superglue might do the trick.  Had a similar issue except with a case clip on a standard Model M.

[E TwentyNine]

While I think a try at supergluing the tabs back on then very carefully placing the board is worth a shot, I suspect failure.

I suspect you'll have to drill a few holes and get some small bolts with nylon washers and roll your own "clips".

[emdude]

If the case of the M2 is PVC like the Model M, then it will work, perhaps too well; you only get one shot and if you don't do it right, you will not be able to remove the clip without a solvent.  Speaking from a single experience though so YMMV.

[epictronics]

Hey guys,
Old thread, but this is where the google trail still leads, so I want to help the next guy getting here.

Two of my M2 had the same problem.
I tried with superglue but it did not held up on reassembly.
I tried the bolt mod but there is just not enough clearance near the PCB.

Finally solved the problem with a foam strip on top of the PCB on both M2's.
This solution basically sandwich the PCB between the original foam strip under the board and the added foam strip on top.

I made a video if you need more details. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gaq4z59r9s0&t=1345s

Good luck