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Author Topic: Model M lost klick  (Read 1475 times)

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Offline Bird

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Model M lost klick
« on: Mon, 03 December 2012, 12:21:41 »
Hey guys,
i have recently purchased a very nice Model M and i am totally happy with it. But theres one key (F11) that has a very silent klick. It works perfectly, but when i depress the key, it doesnt feel as crisp and the click is barely audible. Does anyone know what could cause this issue? The spring looks perfectly fine and i cant find any dirt in there as well...

with best regards
Bird
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Model M lost klick
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 03 December 2012, 13:23:02 »
Re-seat the stem. Take it off, stand the keyboard up on its front edge so that the spring flops downward (forward) and be sure that the stem is centered.

You might have to do it several times.
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Offline Bird

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  • Location: Germany
Re: Model M lost klick
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 03 December 2012, 14:20:14 »
Thanks for the advice, but unfortunately i couldn't repair it though i tried several times. I noticed that other than on the other switches, the spring in this key seems to be a little bent to the side. Could that cause the problem? You could say the spring "looks to the side".
I might as well leave the switch alone, since its only F11, a key i use very rarely. I dont want to destroy the switch entirely since it works fine, only lacks the klack...
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Offline samwisekoi

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Re: Model M lost klick
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 06 December 2012, 17:42:17 »
Quote from: Bird on Mon, 03 December 2012, 14:20:14
Thanks for the advice, but unfortunately i couldn't repair it though i tried several times. I noticed that other than on the other switches, the spring in this key seems to be a little bent to the side. Could that cause the problem? You could say the spring "looks to the side".
I might as well leave the switch alone, since its only F11, a key i use very rarely. I dont want to destroy the switch entirely since it works fine, only lacks the klack...

This happened to one of my springs -- absolutely due to mis-assembly on my part when I was swapping keycaps.

I pulled the keycap off, gave the spring a little tug for straightening, put it all back together carefully -- and it was perfectly fine from then on.

The klack is the buckling -- I'd be worried about the switch if it was left unfixed forever.

Just my $.02,

 - Ron | samwisekoi
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I like keyboards and case modding.  Everything about a computer should be silent -- except the KEYBOARD!

'85 IBM F-122/Soarer Keyboard |  Leopold FC200 TKL (Browns) + GH36 Keypad (Browns/Greens) | GH-122 (Whites/Greens) with Nuclear Data Green keycaps in a Unicomp case

Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Model M lost klick
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 06 December 2012, 20:36:15 »
If the spring is bent, you will surely lose your ping.

You are lucky that the key still works, usually they don't.

I wouldn't mess with it at all if it isn't hurting anything, but you could try the "Chopstick of Death" maneuver.
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From the US Constitution, Article 1, Section 8 :

The   Congress   shall have Power
To declare War,  grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To provide for calling forth the Militia  to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

Offline TheRavenDog

  • Posts: 62
Re: Model M lost klick
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 07 December 2012, 00:04:58 »
When cleaning an old Model M 1390120, I bent a spring and the key would no longer click (felt totally weird and mushy).

I resorted to Bold-Modding the board (I didn't know about the Chopstick-of-Death spring removal technique).

However, the cool thing about Bolt-Modding a board is that you can enable any or all of the 5 "secret keys" found on Model Ms.

The secret keys are:

Right of the Left Shift: ScanCode 0056
Left of the Right Shift: SC0073
Below the NumPad Enter: SC0078
Below the NumPad Plus: SC007E
Left of the Backspace: SC007D

What's really nice is that you can map (either via the Registry or by using AutoHotKeys) the secret keys near the shift keys into the Windows and Menu keys (if you find these keys useful).

Bolt-Modding also allows you to replace any springs that don't feel as strong. Additionally, you can control the volume and frequency of the "ping" by adjusting the tightness of the bolts.

Good luck! Hope you can restore your klick!

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