Unicomp Customizer 101 Odd Keystroke Behavior

[mbs]

I have a Unicomp Customizer 101 that has been my trusty workhorse for about 10 years.  Unfortunately, it has now developed an odd problem with the 'a' switch.  The key feel and sound are normal, but the key is sometimes not registering a keypress, sometimes registering a normal keypress, and regularly registering two keypresses (exactly one for the downside of the action and one for the upside)!

I've tried changing the key out with it's neighbor's plunger but get the same behavior.

Has anyone else run across similar behavior?  Any easy fix or theory about what's happening here?  Failing that, is replacing a keyswitch on one of these pretty much the same crazy process as it is for a real model M?

[Tony]

Have you contacted the Unicomp customer service?

[ch_123]

Sounds like either one of the hammers coming out of place, or the membrane failing. To properly fix either, you'll need to break open the insides. Given that Unicomps are constructed in the same way as "real" Model Ms, this is not a trivial task.

[bugfix]

Better let Unicomp do that. Or order a new one to support them

[ch_123]

Well, it's about $40 + shipping both ways to get the thing fixed up. If you're in anyway predisposed to DIY stuff, I'd give it a shot.

[bugfix]

Well, it's about $40 + shipping both ways to get the thing fixed up. If you're in anyway predisposed to DIY stuff, I'd give it a shot.

That is of course a very good argument.

[mbs]

yeah I guess at that price for fixin' it, I may as well get a new one... :/

[sam113101]

My caps lock is registering two keypresses 1 time out of 5, that's kind of annoying when you're using it as your backspace (it deletes two characters but you didn't expect so, so you kept typing then realise… then backspace then it happens AGAIN). Annoying. I'm using a spacesaver.

[jpc]

My caps lock is registering two keypresses 1 time out of 5, that's kind of annoying when you're using it as your backspace (it deletes two characters but you didn't expect so, so you kept typing then realise… then backspace then it happens AGAIN). Annoying. I'm using a spacesaver.

Could be debris under the hammer. Try popping the key cap and blowing into the keyboard. Try turning the board sideways and pressing the key several times.

Mechanically does this key feel like it works ok?

[mbs]

Could be debris under the hammer. Try popping the key cap and blowing into the keyboard. Try turning the board sideways and pressing the key several times.

Mechanically does this key feel like it works ok?

Hey, I tried blowing/turning sideways, plus giving it a bit of a beating in that position (hey, couldnt hurt, since I had given up hope anyway...).  It seems to be working okay again!  Maybe it lives another day!  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Mechanically I couldn't tell any difference.  I guess WSAD do seem to be significantly more broken in than the other keys -- most of the letter keys give a resonating ping on keyup, but WSAD are dead.

[mbs]

Oh on a side note, I emailed unicomp and they say it's $30 now for a repair/refurb job, plus shipping.

[theferenc]

I would just buy a new one, unless you're mechanically inclined. It's not at all difficult to do the bolt mod (which is what you would need to do to replace those springs and hammers), but there are a lot of places you can screw up.

Plus, it might even be the actual membrane that is the problem, though I find this less likely, since it seems like there actually was some debris in the keyboard.

[ch_123]

I think my $40 figure may have been wrong. I knew it was something in that region, but not precisely.