Model M Spacebar too low, why? Help please.

[Jami123]

Hallo there :-)

I've bought a Modle M and removed the keys for cleaning. Now I can't put the spacebar back, its kind of too low ...

Maybe I'm just doing something wrong, could anyone help me out?

And one more thing: The water in the "underuilding" of the keys dries very slow, so I've put these in the oven. But only for under a minute at low temperatures, let's say about 80 degrees (celsius). Could the spacebar have bent? Because its made of a plastic that conducts electricity (it's a UK model).

The 3rd and 4th picture show the same but from other angles.

[fohat.digs]

Make sure that it is not backwards (don't know whether that is possible with an M, but it is with some).

Also, ensure that the metal stabilizer is set properly in its slots.

edit - I re-read the post. Now I do think that it is warped. 80 degrees is OK for PBT but that is too hot for ABS, it doesn't melt into a blob at that temp, but it definitely starts getting wavy.

I have wrecked a number of ABS keys, attempting to  dye them. My observation is that right around that temperature, where ABS starts getting soft, is very close to the absolute minimum temperature required to get RIT dye to take.

After washing keys, I drain them in a colander or wire basket for 5-10 minutes. Then I lay a T-shirt out on the bed, and shake the water out of the "cup" of each one, individually, and toss it down. If you get a good rhythm going, you can do it in a couple of minutes. After that, they are 98% dry in 10-20 minutes, completely in under an hour.

[dorkvader]

I believe the Spacebars on some of the UK (Greenrock) ones are ABS. Since the rest are PBT (and have a much higher melting temperature, you could have deformed the spacebar. I'd recommend checking the flatness with a ruler, and using a hairdryer to flatten it out if it is deformed.

That said, there could be other reasons. As Foghat.Digs says: check the stabilizer, etc. Re-seat the spacebar (again) etc.

[Jami123]

All right, thank you all for youre replies.

- It's not backwards. The front side feels more rough. Also it does not fit backwards at all.
- The metal stabilizer are in the slots as shown in the 3rd picture from top (in the 1st post)

The idea with the ruler sounds good. The space bar is slightly bent, so you say that this is not normal. A ruler does not fit plain on top of the key.

But the other keys that have been in the oven are fine, so the space bar seems to deform rather easy ...

What makes no sense about the deforming-theory is that the space bar does not go up heigher than shown in the 4th picture (1st post). Even if I pull it upwards ...

There is no trick about putting space back, is it?

And is Alt as high as space? Or is it normal that space is a little lower?

[mule]

It looks like you ruined your spacebar while drying it in the oven. If you can't get it back to its original shape with a hairdryer and a ruler I would suggest just ordering a new one from Unicomp, they don't cost that much.

[Jami123]

So ...
I've tried it with a hairdryer and it works again. Thank you so much for that tip, it helped (but I burned my fingers a bit ;-) ) When I press on the outmost left or right edge the spacebar registers perfectly. But it is still lower than the Alt-key. Is that normal or should I bent spacebar a little more. It is nearly plain now, with a very small curve in the opposite direction as before. The hand-drawn picture is an exaggeration, of course.

And another question: Is spacebar the only key made of ABS or the stat true for all others on my keyboard too?

And again thank you all for your help.

[False_Dmitry_II]

You have a greenock made model m then. It is indeed the only key that is ABS.

I proved this when it was the only casualty when I did dyed one of my model m's. I then further tested it using acetone. All of that should be in the all about keys wiki.

Are you saying there's a difference between the two plastics in electrical conductivity? I didn't know about that. It would be cool to test with a voltmeter or something rather than acetone.

I still need to get a replacement for it so I can use/dye my other model m. For the record I don't think you'll get it back into shape. I don't think the only deformation is the angle, I think it changes some in size and other things too.

[mich]

Are you saying there's a difference between the two plastics in electrical conductivity? I didn't know about that. It would be cool to test with a voltmeter or something rather than acetone.

I have no clue why Greenock attached these wires to their spacebars but they certainly do not conduct electricity.

[False_Dmitry_II]

Oh, if that's what he's referring to then the only thing it could be for is static. Yeah I was pretty surprised when I read what he said the other way.

[captain]

Brother ripster would set you all straight about conductivity, electricity, coulombs vs. amps, and myriad other points, but he is banned. I don't have time to teach physics 102 today, but maybe later. Good luck with everything!
BTW, Rit dye is crap. Try some professional stuff from dharma trading co. Out of San Rafael, Cali. :-)

[False_Dmitry_II]

Only if it comes with this logo.



Rit works just fine.

Also, that's news to me. But then I haven't been around for some time. Apparently more or less for as long as you've been here since that's a pretty high post count for me to not recognize the name.