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Author Topic: Before doing something badly wrong... (disassambly of an IBM model M)  (Read 1742 times)

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Offline mcc

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  • Posts: 41
Before doing something badly wrong... (disassambly of an IBM model M)
« on: Sat, 24 September 2011, 06:21:58 »
Hi,

My IBM model M is 24 years old and working fine...there is only
one thing I want to change: I want to lubricate the keystem, cause
there is to much friction.

For this I bought "Ballistol PTFE spray" which is useable for all kind of
plastics as thje label says.

In different postings I read different things about removing the key stems.
One said DONT DO THAT! other saiy "DONT REMOVE THE LONGER KES STEMS
and the rest says NO PROBLEM AT ALL.

Are there any hints I can follow to successfully remove and insert the key stems
for lubrication purposes ?

Thank you very much in advance for any help!
Best regards and have a nice weekend!
mcc
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Offline fohat.digs

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Before doing something badly wrong... (disassambly of an IBM model M)
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 24 September 2011, 07:39:20 »
I am going to want to watch this thread.

I have always avoided lubricating plastics because I worry that anything new will accelerate the deterioration process. When "Armor-All" came out, decades ago, I pounced on it and thought it was great until I realized that it only lasted for some "x" number of day/weeks/months. Now I hardly ever "protect" anything.

I am curious what would cause friction, besides some form of dirt, and figure that a good cleaning should take care of it. Popping out the keys is no prob at all, I have a set soaking in laundry detergent at this very moment. I will give everything else a good vacuum and wipe and put it back together.

However, I am a newbie and there are a lot of people here who know much better than I do.

PS - I have a silly tool that I bent out of paper clips to remove keys. The longer keys such as the spacebar (and if yours is an 1987-88, then 3 or 4 others such as Enter and Shift) require some bit more care, since stabilizer wires are involved, but do go in and out easily enough, especially if the case is off and you do them with all the keys around them out of the way. And study the dark recesses with a flashlight.

The "Never take out the spacebar" is a Model F thing and it really is a tedious pain to put those back together!
« Last Edit: Sat, 24 September 2011, 09:06:59 by fohat.digs »
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline mcc

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  • Posts: 41
Before doing something badly wrong... (disassambly of an IBM model M)
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 24 September 2011, 09:56:52 »
Hi Harry,

Now! :)

I have removed all key stems and sprayed the inner part (not the outside) with PTFE spray
I used Balistol Teflon spray ... sorry, it is a german product, from which I dont know, whether it is
available elsewhere and under what name. But "Kontaflon" is also useable and I read about
here in the forum. The only important thing is: Do not use anything which contains oil or a solvent
or propellant which attacks plastic. The label on the spray can stated "Useable for all plastics".
This is also said for Kontaflon which is twice as expensive here as the Ballistol stuff.

I put back key stem for key stem after teflonification :) of each right before.

The difference is not THAT obvious but the slight friction when pressing a key has gone.
Or in other words: Is clickityclack is mor "pure". Or in words of the HiFi-technique:
The S/N ratio is quite better! :))

Using PTFE has no drawback since it does not accumulate dust, it does not get sticky after some
time and it is not agressive.

Have fun!

Best regards,
mcc
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Offline fohat.digs

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  • Posts: 6533
  • Location: 35°55'N, 83°53'W
  • weird funny old guy
Before doing something badly wrong... (disassambly of an IBM model M)
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 24 September 2011, 11:29:27 »
Looks like Amazon has it for $8 per can plus shipping.

Also looks like it contains mineral oil. Won't that gum up over time?

I have a teflon spray from United Labs that is said (on the can) to be safe for plastics and rubber, and one of its uses is "dry release agent"

Maybe I will do an experiment with that stuff.

I have never worried about friction, to tell the truth, at least not in keys.
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline mcc

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 41
Before doing something badly wrong... (disassambly of an IBM model M)
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 24 September 2011, 12:14:12 »
Hi,

yes, everything containing silicone stuff is a dust magnet. And silicon oil
is nearly impossibly to be removed from where it is applied.

Put silicone oil on the front window of your car and you will instantly know,
what that means ;)   .... no go idea (tm)

Best regards,
mcc

PS: Here the US part of the ballistol company (named "Klever")
http://www.ballistol.com/index.htm
WARNING: The linked page refers to the know Baliistol all purpose oil (great stuff,
but not for keyboards!) ... you have to dig deeper...

PPS: May be here? : http://www.lindstaedt.com/shop/advanced_search_result.php?sid=2d14ae30425828aec3282e3f12c867d6&sid=2d14ae30425828aec3282e3f12c867d6&keywords=ballistol+teflon&x=0&y=0
« Last Edit: Sat, 24 September 2011, 12:27:57 by mcc »
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