So I finally bought a Model F XT

[1391406]

Wow, what a difference in feel from the Model M. Much lighter and crisper. It even sounds a bit more typewriter'ish to my ears. The only thing I've noticed is a discrepancy between the force required to actuate the space bar and other keys. If I had to guess, it feels like it requires almost double the force. To anyone who has one, is this consistent with your experience? Is the space bar typically more firm than the rest of the keys?

[sleepy916]

Wow, what a difference in feel from the Model M. Much lighter and crisper. It even sounds a bit more typewriter'ish to my ears. The only thing I've noticed is a discrepancy between the force required to actuate the space bar and other keys. If I had to guess, it feels like it requires almost double the force. To anyone who has one, is this consistent with your experience? Is the space bar typically more firm than the rest of the keys?

It feels great doesn't it? I have an AT but the feel is similar to the XT from what I have read. Yeah the spacebar takes a bit more than the rest. It is more obvious than on the Model Ms.

[AKIMbO]

You can mod the spacebar to require less force.  It's what I've done to all my Model Fs.  It does require a ton of disassembly though.

[1391406]

You can mod the spacebar to require less force.  It's what I've done to all my Model Fs.  It does require a ton of disassembly though.

What causes it?

[agodinhost]

Metal case? I do remember those guys had a sturdy metal case ...

It's more or less noisy than the model m?

I'm planning to get one model F too but I will try to add some rubber rings on it - it uses those weird space invaders switches ?

[1391406]

It's more or less noisy than the model m?

I've heard people say Model F's are louder, but having heard it firsthand, I'm not sure I'd agree.

it uses those weird space invaders switches ?

It still uses Buckling Spring, however the difference between the Model M and F is that the F uses a capacitive contact rather than a membrane.

[AKIMbO]

You can mod the spacebar to require less force.  It's what I've done to all my Model Fs.  It does require a ton of disassembly though.

What causes it?

There is a metal wire that is bent into the shape of a V which is used to stabilize the spacebar.  The wire sits inside of the metal plate assembly.  The mod involves taking off the metal back plate, then carefully bending the wire to less of a V shape (i.e. make the V more shallow) and finally reinstalling the metal back plate.  You can't remove the spacebars of F XTs and F ATs without first opening up the metal backplate and manually disconnecting the metal spacebar wire from the spacebar itself.  It's the one annoying design quirk of those two models.   

[1391406]

You can't remove the spacebars of F XTs and F ATs without first opening up the metal backplate and manually disconnecting the metal spacebar wire from the spacebar itself.

Does that require removing a few screws, or is it more involved? The one in my possession is mint(practically brand new), hence I don't want to screw anything up depending on the level of involvement.

[lazerpointer]

Always trying to find one of these... I will get mine eventually.

[sleepy916]

You can't remove the spacebars of F XTs and F ATs without first opening up the metal backplate and manually disconnecting the metal spacebar wire from the spacebar itself.

Does that require removing a few screws, or is it more involved? The one in my possession is mint(practically brand new), hence I don't want to screw anything up depending on the level of involvement.

You will have to almost take it totally apart, separating the front metal plate from the rest of the board. When you do that the barrels and flippies (hammers on model m) will be exposed so you can get to the spacebar. It's kind of pain the first time but once you do it enough, it's not too bad.

Always trying to find one of these... I will get mine eventually.

They are always on ebay, I have seen at least a few every time I check. I just can't get over the layout on the XT though.

[fohat.digs]

Do not gloss over the spacebar installation of the F XT. Unlike most spacebars, it does not just clip down into place. There are 3 parts, and one of them is an "undercarriage" sort of affair that mirrors the spacebar on the back side of the plate.

The 2 large plastic pieces clamp onto/through opposite sides of the plate with the wire stabilizer in the middle of it all.

I eventually started using a weighted loop of thread to hold the wire, and pulled it out after it was all back together.

Expect it to take more than 1 try.

[sleepy916]

It looks like this when you take the front plate off. Not my images, credit goes to epiguru.

[1391406]

So it's definitely not a simple affair.

Okay, I'm looking at the images. The goal is to bend the wire upward, correct? The downward bend (V shape) is creating the tension?

[1391406]

I found this thread, which documents (with images) how to disassemble the board:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=5492.0