Trackpoint Replacement for IBM Model M13

[TheRavenDog]

I recently had the good fortune of finding a Black IBM Model M13. But... it's Trackpoint is broken. Specifically, the connections to 2 of the strain gauges are broken. Sadly, there's no way to solder the connections back.

Does anybody know where I could purchase a replacement Trackpoint?

[E TwentyNine]

Unicomp.  Contact support there ( http://support.pckeyboard.com/ ), tell them what you want, and they'll tell you the product code to use for a custom order.  Think it's either $10 or $20 for the trackpoint, plus shipping, you might pick up some custom keys or other misc parts while you're at it.

[TheRavenDog]

Unicomp.  Contact support there ( http://support.pckeyboard.com/ ), tell them what you want, and they'll tell you the product code to use for a custom order.  Think it's either $10 or $20 for the trackpoint, plus shipping, you might pick up some custom keys or other misc parts while you're at it.

Great! I had mentally dismissed Unicomp thinking they didn't have any MaxiSwitch parts. How silly of me...

Thanks for the advice.

[TheRavenDog]

Just heard back from Unicomp: "Unfortunately, our track points are not interchangeable with MaxiSwitch keyboards."

Rats.

Any other ideas from the Keyboard community?

[E TwentyNine]

Just heard back from Unicomp: "Unfortunately, our track points are not interchangeable with MaxiSwitch keyboards."

Rats.

Any other ideas from the Keyboard community?

You have to give them the model number of the keyboard you want to fix.

This is from a few years back, note both styles:

As of last year they had both styles of pointers, I bought two of the old style myself.

[E TwentyNine]

I dug up my old exchange with Unicomp.  This is what they had told me when I asked them for a trackpoint II module for an M13:

We do have the trackpoint stick assembly for the 13H6705. The price is $20. To order use the link below;
pckeyboard.com/page/KBDCFG/CUSTOM
Select 2 for quantity ($20 total) and enter "strain gauge pointing stick for 13H6705" in customization field

Sometimes with unicomp you have to ask them a few times until you get the right knowledgeable person.

[TheRavenDog]

Those three in the middle are the type!

I'll ask Unicomp for the specific model number and hope for the best.

Thanks again.

Unless, you have one you would be willing to sell???

[E TwentyNine]

Well, if for some reason Unicomp really is out of stock on the TPII's, there's no way I'm selling my only spare (the other one is installed on a board).

If they're not out, then you'll be able to get one from them.

[TheRavenDog]

Fair enough.

[TheRavenDog]

E29: you rock!

I followed the link in your e-mail and ordered the part from Unicomp. Today I got an e-mail from Unicomp indicating that it's $20 (2 customization fees) rather than $10 (which, if I had read more carefully, I would have understood).

But they have the part! I'm on my way to a fully cleaned, bolt-modded, and repaired Black M13.

Thanks again.

[E TwentyNine]

Great.  Be careful removing the old part.  It's "peg melted" to the board so you have to cut the top off the pegs but leave something there for proper placement of the new part.

Forget exactly what I did, but basically I positioned the new part then used a clear two-part epoxy (gorilla I think) on the tops of the pegs making a drop of epoxy and let it set for a few days.  Doesn't take a lot.

There may be alternate approaches to mounting the new part but that worked for me.

[TheRavenDog]

I was going to bolt mod the whole thing. I was assuming that I could attach the TrackPoint with bolts directly through the backplate (I'll need to drill three holes).

Do you think this will work? It seems the most secure and repairable in the future. Of course, there may be traces on the membranes where I need to drill...

[E TwentyNine]

I think drilling new holes is overkill.  The way I did it with the epoxy is still reversible if need be, but I suspect I'd end up with even shorter pegs if I needed to take that route.

I'd avoid anything that introduces new holes in the barrel plate, more chance for damage from spills or dirt.  And while I don't think the traces route directly below where the mount pegs are, they're pretty close.

Edit:  Then again, the top mount goes right between G and H where there is a trace and the bottom likely hit the traces on either side of the B.  I'd avoid drilling.