Model M13 Troubleshooting

[Muh Fugen]

Hi Geekhack, I was hoping you could help me with a problem i'm having with my glorious IBM Model M13. Everything was working fine with both onboard PS2 (SuperMicro X9DAE) and a USB PS2 converter for over a year, untill I spilled something on the keyboard. I let it dry and now I get multiple keystrokes for a single keypress and some keys dont work at all. I dont remember what I spilled, but taking the case off doesnt look like there is any sticky soda residue in it. I have not bolt modded it yet, so I havent checked the membranes. Does this sound like I need to bolt mod/clean the membrane, or does my controller need to be replaced? If the latter, is there a good source for replacements? If it'll help you guys, I have a multimeter, a cheap USB digital storage oscilloscope (Velleman PCSU1000) and logic analyzer (Intronix Logicport), just tell me what to probe.

Here is a quick text editor test, I havent used a real program to monitor HID events to see if there are other presses being sent.

Keys ~, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, -, =, Backspace, Tab, t, y, [, ], Caps Lock, g, h and ' work fine

Keys q, w, e, r, u, i, o, p do not provide a keystroke

Key \ yields "\ Space Return"
Key a yields "za"
Key s yields "Backspace x s"
Key d yields "cd"
Key f yields "bvf"
Key j yields "nmj"
Key k yields ",k"
Key l yields ".l"
Key ; yields "/\;"
Key z yields "za"
Key x yields "Backspace x s"
Key c yields "cd"
Key v yields "bvf"
Key b yields "bvf"
Key n yields "nmj"
Key m yields "nmj"
Key , yields ",k"
Key . yields ".l"
Key Space yields "\ Space Return"

[Mattr567]

Sounds like whatever you spilled has bridged traces on the membrane causing multiple key inputs. A through cleaning is required.

Bolt modding has nothing to do with it since you have been using it flawlessly for a while up until this point.

Was it plugged in when it spilled? Did you unplug once it was spilled?

[Snowdog993]

Hi Geekhack, I was hoping you could help me with a problem i'm having with my glorious IBM Model M13. Everything was working fine with both onboard PS2 (SuperMicro X9DAE) and a USB PS2 converter for over a year, untill I spilled something on the keyboard. I let it dry and now I get multiple keystrokes for a single keypress and some keys dont work at all. I dont remember what I spilled, but taking the case off doesnt look like there is any sticky soda residue in it. I have not bolt modded it yet, so I havent checked the membranes. Does this sound like I need to bolt mod/clean the membrane, or does my controller need to be replaced? If the latter, is there a good source for replacements? If it'll help you guys, I have a multimeter, a cheap USB digital storage oscilloscope (Velleman PCSU1000) and logic analyzer (Intronix Logicport), just tell me what to probe.

Here is a quick text editor test, I havent used a real program to monitor HID events to see if there are other presses being sent.

Keys ~, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, -, =, Backspace, Tab, t, y, [, ], Caps Lock, g, h and ' work fine

Keys q, w, e, r, u, i, o, p do not provide a keystroke

Key \ yields "\ Space Return"
Key a yields "za"
Key s yields "Backspace x s"
Key d yields "cd"
Key f yields "bvf"
Key j yields "nmj"
Key k yields ",k"
Key l yields ".l"
Key ; yields "/\;"
Key z yields "za"
Key x yields "Backspace x s"
Key c yields "cd"
Key v yields "bvf"
Key b yields "bvf"
Key n yields "nmj"
Key m yields "nmj"
Key , yields ",k"
Key . yields ".l"
Key Space yields "\ Space Return"

Hmm.  Did you open it at all?  If so, did you disconnect and reconnect the ribbon cable?
If you did not open it, you most likely need a restoration.
You could contact Maxx at Phosphorglow.net and hopefully he will be able to help you out.
Read about him and find out about his overhaul service.
http://phosphorglow.net/store/products/model-m-reconditioning-service-full/
He restored my white M13.
http://imgur.com/a/b4Q7Q
He even had to make new buttons for my trackpoint.

Good luck!

[Muh Fugen]

A through cleaning is required. Bolt modding has nothing to do with it since you have been using it flawlessly for a while up until this point. Was it plugged in when it spilled? Did you unplug once it was spilled?

How can you clean the membranes without bolt modding it? I'm pretty sure getting at the membranes involves removing the plastic rivets. And yeah it was plugged in.

Hmm.  Did you open it at all?  If so, did you disconnect and reconnect the ribbon cable? If you did not open it, you most likely need a restoration.

I'm not really interested in paying someone else to do the labor for me since i'm out of work, and I feel comfortable doing it myself. Since it stopped working I opened it up to see if anything was obviously burnt, although i'm guessing you're not referring to that.

[chyros]

I had virtually the exact same issue with my M2. That was due to corrosion on the membrane traces; a good iPrOH clean with a paper towel fixed that. However, the M2 can be more readily opened than the M; you will need to somehow get the plate and membrane together, so bolt-mod it is!

[E TwentyNine]

Before you go pulling apart the keyboard assembly, open up the case and reseat the membrane connectors in the controller.  Getting the "qwer" keys working is the bigger issue.

The next thing to do would be to fix the bridging.

You can get a big container the keyboard assembly fits in and pour isopropyl alcohol into it repeatedly.   Store the keyboard vertically, let it dry for a day, see if anything changes.

[Snowdog993]

Hmm.  Did you open it at all?  If so, did you disconnect and reconnect the ribbon cable? If you did not open it, you most likely need a restoration.

I'm not really interested in paying someone else to do the labor for me since i'm out of work, and I feel comfortable doing it myself. Since it stopped working I opened it up to see if anything was obviously burnt, although i'm guessing you're not referring to that.

No, I am not referring to that.  The best thing you can do is clean the contacts on the controller and reseat the ribbon cables.  Follow what e29 has stated too.  Hopefully you won't need to do a bolt-mod at all.  Good luck!