New AEK2 ... with a bad spacebar (resolved!)

[phongn]

I just acquired a new-in-box AEK2. It's wonderful device and brings back many a fond memory from my childhood, and nicely complements my old Model M. Unfortunately, there is a major problem: the space bar sticks very badly. As a result, the keyboard is virtually unusable.

Is there any way to diagnose and resolve this problem? I'd have to box up this otherwise perfect keyboard.

[wellington1869]

can you pop off the spacebar and take a look?  just stick two thin screwdrivers under it and pop it off. There will be a wire brace which should come off too. Then see if the switch underneath the spacebar is moving freely or not. You should get an idea of why the spacebar is sticking at that point. (If its the switch you can take that apart and diagnose that too).

[phongn]

can you pop off the spacebar and take a look?  just stick two thin screwdrivers under it and pop it off. There will be a wire brace which should come off too. Then see if the switch underneath the spacebar is moving freely or not. You should get an idea of why the spacebar is sticking at that point. (If its the switch you can take that apart and diagnose that too).

Thank you very much! After popping off the key and re-seating it everything seems to be working very well now.

[wellington1869]

Thank you very much! After popping off the key and re-seating it everything seems to be working very well now.

excellent

btw I just ordered an AEK2 as well

[itlnstln]

Wellington, if you see a AEK2 that's cheap (a parts only kind of deal), could you PM me?  My Northgate mod hit a slight set back when the donor 'board had rubber domes (in those very Alps-looking switches).

[iMav]

Where are you guys getting these NIB AEK2's?

[phongn]

Where are you guys getting these NIB AEK2's?

I randomly found one on another message board through the power of Google.

[wellington1869]

Wellington, if you see a AEK2 that's cheap (a parts only kind of deal), could you PM me?  

sure, no problem. There were a couple for $25-30 shipped on ebay a few days ago, might still be there. I'll keep an eye out for something cheaper.
Turns out the reason I got lucky with the $13 free shipping one was because of an Ebay promotion, apparantly they had a limited time free shipping promotion and I was just lucky enough to be ebaying at that time. Otherwise it would have cost me about $20 (still pretty cheap).

My Northgate mod hit a slight set back when the donor 'board had rubber domes (in those very Alps-looking switches).

definitely a bummer, and what kind of switches are those that look like alps but are domes? Weird.