Problem with my new Filco keyboard.

[Pyrobyte]

Hey everyone, I hope you don't mind if my first post is a question.

I recently purchased a Filco Ninja Majestouch-2 Tenkeyless (what a name!) keyboard. In fact, I just got it in the mail... It's a great keyboard and a joy to type on. However, the left shift key is somewhat harder to press than the other keys. The tactile response is not smooth, either; it feels kind of rough. I saw a few fixes for it, but I'd like to hear what you guys think about it before I try one and/or send it back. I understand that problems like these are bound to happen with mechanical keyboards, but I was expecting near perfection for $150.

Thanks a ton! 

[AKIMbO]

It's most likely the stabilizer on the left shift key.  Just throw some silicone grease on it (on the metal bar and inside the white plastic inserts).  That should fix it.

You can get silicone grease at Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, etc...in the plumbing department for around $3-4.

You are going to have to take the keycap off the keyboard to lube the stabilizer though.

[MonoSky]

Kinda a side question here.
Will any Silicon Grease work?

Can I also use it on the internals?

[AKIMbO]

What do you mean internals?

Yes, any silicone grease will work.

[thegunner100]

I suggest you don't put any lube inside of the actual switch, since they are already pre-lubed. Now if ripster's subforum was up, i'd be able to link to you to his lube guide...

[Pyrobyte]

Thanks for the help. I'll pick up some silicon grease next time I go into town. Is it normal for a new keyboard to have these issues?

[daerid]

What switches did you get?

I had that exact board with Black switches, and the left switch was rough. Turned out it was a small plastic burr that was left over from the injection mold, just used an exacto knife to cut it off and was right as rain.

[Pyrobyte]

What switches did you get?

I had that exact board with Black switches, and the left switch was rough. Turned out it was a small plastic burr that was left over from the injection mold, just used an exacto knife to cut it off and was right as rain.

I got brown switches. Should I attempt to take the key cap off? I've never done it before.

EDIT: Gonna try to find a thread on here to assist me with that.

[Pyrobyte]

So, the weirdest thing... I took off the Ctrl and Windows keys to get a better look at the shift key, and the Windows key switch appears to be upside down...

WHAT?!

EDIT: Confirmed, definitely upside down. WTF!

[AKIMbO]

So, the weirdest thing... I took off the Ctrl and Windows keys to get a better look at the shift key, and the Windows key switch appears to be upside down...

WHAT?!

EDIT: Confirmed, definitely upside down. WTF!

That's normal.

[1391401]

All my keyboards have cherry stabilizers.  There are two things I noticed

1) the round peg that the stabilizer leg interfaces with can actually rub on the stabilizer housing
2) the stabilizer bar can easily come undone and the key does not function the same way

The fix for 1 is lubrication and the fix for 2 is seating the stabilizer bar back in its correct orientation

Not sure if this has any carry over to Costar