Arrow key on Unicomp Spacesaver stopped working.

[Xybjj]

Hello,

My Unicomp Spacesaver has been going strong for almost a year (bought Jan 2011) but it's starting to break down. The right arrow key on the arrow key cluster has stopped working without me doing anything. I've spilled liquids into the keyboard before but it's nowhere near the arrow key cluster and nothing has stopped working.

I can't exactly utilize my warranty because I live in Singapore and shipping this back to the US will probably be extremely expensive.

Is there anyway to fix this on my own?

[czarek]

If it's a short circuit due to spilled liquid you can try distilled water. If that doesn't help, you will have to do a bolt mod, separate membranes from the plates, clean up internals then put it back together. Not an easy fix and may alter the feeling of your keyboard but will give you a way to adjust the sound / feel of the springs and will make your keyboard last longer.

You can also try ordering the membranes and plate assembly without the casing and controller board from Unicomp as it will be cheaper than the whole board and may be cheaper to ship from America.

[czarek]

Distilled water?

I wouldn't do that for a membrane keyboard.

Why? It should clear the crap from between membranes. My friend used to work in mobile phone service where they used distilled water and/or ultrasonic bath to clean phones after spilling liquids on them. That was in 2001-2002 so days of Nokia 3310 and such phones.

[Xybjj]

Bolt mod is out of the question. I don't have the tools or knowledge to do that.

Buying a new membrane and new plate assembly sounds feasible, but will that solve my problem? How on earth do I replace those parts anyway?

Thanks.

[czarek]

Membrane and plate assembly is the thing where you insert keycaps, it's basically whole keyboard without controller, case and keycaps. You'll understand how to replace it once you get it.

[keyboardlover]

Hey, that's MY meme!

[Roguemaster8]

The exact same thing just happened to my right arrow key a couple minutes ago.

Is this a known defect? I'm debating trying to fix it myself or just calling Unicomp since I JUST got it yesterday.

[Roguemaster8]

Did you ever remedy the problem, Xybjj?

[soymilk]

if you just got it yesterday i'd hope unicomp would replace it for you.

[sordna]

The exact same thing just happened to my right arrow key a couple minutes ago.

Is this a known defect? I'm debating trying to fix it myself or just calling Unicomp since I JUST got it yesterday.

Pop out the key, check that the spring looks okay (don't pull it out however) and put the key back, taking care to seat the spring properly on the keycap. Sometimes during shipping the spring could get dislocated a bit, and if that's the case it's no biggie at all. If that doesn't fix it (it literally takes 5 seconds to do) then I'd contact Unicomp.

[Roguemaster8]

I had tried that, and even checked down the barrel to see if there was anything blocking the hammer. I left a ticket on their support site, since calling them would require me to be home from 8 am to 5 pm, which I won't be on the weekdays.

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[rknize]

If the key clicks like it should, then the issue is likely electrical.  It's warrantied for 1 year, so they should take care of it.

[Roguemaster8]

Do you know if I have to pay shipping fees?

[rknize]

I think so, but given it only lasted one day I would call or email them.  Maybe they will help you out.

[Roguemaster8]

I opened up a ticket about it, couldn't find an email address to contact them with though.

I honestly couldn't believe it when it happened, I was so enticed by the idea of having a really sturdy board when I discovered one the keys wouldn't work.

[rknize]

Yeah, that really sucks.