Tips on switching stabilizer keycaps?

[Keytrun]

Can someone give me some tips on switching costar stabilizer caps? I saw some video that said something about inverting the brackets? Also, I don't want to mess up the greese and make the keys stiff. Thanks!

[Pacifist]

Pop the keys around the stabs off, then pop the keys off. Swap inserts, push back in. It should snap right in. Put surrounding keys back on

[Keytrun]

Pop the keys around the stabs off, then pop the keys off. Swap inserts, push back in. It should snap right in. Put surrounding keys back on

Yea, but what about getting the little wire back in? Do you take the wire out of the board or just slip it out of the key? I just tried putting the numpad + key in (switching from razer OEM to thich pbt cherry) and now the key is stuck. I'm just messing around a bit until I get my filco (where the keys will end up)

[catnipz0098]

Pop the keys around the stabs off, then pop the keys off. Swap inserts, push back in. It should snap right in. Put surrounding keys back on

Yea, but what about getting the little wire back in? Do you take the wire out of the board or just slip it out of the key? I just tried putting the numpad + key in (switching from razer OEM to thich pbt cherry) and now the key is stuck. I'm just messing around a bit until I get my filco (where the keys will end up)

I believe you just push and shove it and it goes in 

[SpAmRaY]

Costar stabs can be a PIA to get just right.

You have to put the whites things in the right way also.

[Pacifist]

Costar stabs can be a PIA to get just right.

You have to put the whites things in the right way also.

My inserts are black  )

[SpAmRaY]

Costar stabs can be a PIA to get just right.

You have to put the whites things in the right way also.

My inserts are black  )

[MsYutai]

Pop the keys around the stabs off, then pop the keys off. Swap inserts, push back in. It should snap right in. Put surrounding keys back on

Yea, but what about getting the little wire back in? Do you take the wire out of the board or just slip it out of the key? I just tried putting the numpad + key in (switching from razer OEM to thich pbt cherry) and now the key is stuck. I'm just messing around a bit until I get my filco (where the keys will end up)

Hopefully your wire didn't come out completely!

I'm just gong to give you (and any other interested parties) these tips because I was having issues with some stabilizer inserts myself this weekend.

In order to remove the key kinda wiggle it to the side and up at the same time. You can also go kinda rough and pull it off (this will hopefully result in the stabilizer insert staying on the wire but your key coming up). I used a wire keypuller which I think is easier to use for the larger keys.

Once you have the key off, you can either place the stabilizer inserts onto the keyboard or onto the key. I find it easier to place it on the keyboard.

Put the stabilizer insert onto the wire with the longer side towards the top of your keyboard (this is on my CM board)... Try to get the insert to stand straight up. My board has little holder things to keep it in place.

Then you shove the key on! I found it easier to kind of tilt it away from you first to make sure it's aligned before tilting it back down into the stabilizer inserts and your switch. Hit it down real hard or whatever. Press on each side of the key to make sure it is stabilized.

If your key comes up off the stabilizer (mine was doing this), put some plastic from a ziploc bag in between the stabilizer (plastic thing) and the key.

Hope that helps!

[Pacifist]

Pop the keys around the stabs off, then pop the keys off. Swap inserts, push back in. It should snap right in. Put surrounding keys back on

Yea, but what about getting the little wire back in? Do you take the wire out of the board or just slip it out of the key? I just tried putting the numpad + key in (switching from razer OEM to thich pbt cherry) and now the key is stuck. I'm just messing around a bit until I get my filco (where the keys will end up)

Hopefully your wire didn't come out completely!

I'm just gong to give you (and any other interested parties) these tips because I was having issues with some stabilizer inserts myself this weekend.

In order to remove the key kinda wiggle it to the side and up at the same time. You can also go kinda rough and pull it off (this will hopefully result in the stabilizer insert staying on the wire but your key coming up). I used a wire keypuller which I think is easier to use for the larger keys.

Once you have the key off, you can either place the stabilizer inserts onto the keyboard or onto the key. I find it easier to place it on the keyboard.

Put the stabilizer insert onto the wire with the longer side towards the top of your keyboard (this is on my CM board)... Try to get the insert to stand straight up. My board has little holder things to keep it in place.

Then you shove the key on! I found it easier to kind of tilt it away from you first to make sure it's aligned before tilting it back down into the stabilizer inserts and your switch. Hit it down real hard or whatever. Press on each side of the key to make sure it is stabilized.

If your key comes up off the stabilizer (mine was doing this), put some plastic from a ziploc bag in between the stabilizer (plastic thing) and the key.

Hope that helps!

My wire came out when I tried adding an oring to a shift key.

One holder worked fine, the other got a bit bent, so the stab would often fall out halfway. Drove me insane, it never stayed in place. So I took it out, rolled up a piece of tape, put it inside the insert, and now it stays in place.

[Keytrun]

There are two little black pieces that sit on each side of the switch inside the keyboard. Those pieces are what the wire hooks into. I leave those pieces alone, right? If the wire comes out of those pieces I can just clip it back in, correct? That's how it is on my razer blackwidow ultimate, anyway.

I saw this video

and it tells you to reverse those black pieces that hold in the wire. Any idea why?

Also, my concern is the grease / lubricant. What parts are lubed? Will handeling it mess this up? I want to handle as little as possible to keep the grease in tact, right? Does the filco come stock with the keys well greased? Do I need to redo it after replacing caps? How would I even do it if that was the case?

[terran5992]

There are two little black pieces that sit on each side of the switch inside the keyboard. Those pieces are what the wire hooks into. I leave those pieces alone, right? If the wire comes out of those pieces I can just clip it back in, correct? That's how it is on my razer blackwidow ultimate, anyway.

I saw this video

and it tells you to reverse those black pieces that hold in the wire. Any idea why?

Also, my concern is the grease / lubricant. What parts are lubed? Will handeling it mess this up? I want to handle as little as possible to keep the grease in tact, right? Does the filco come stock with the keys well greased? Do I need to redo it after replacing caps? How would I even do it if that was the case?

I do not think that the filco is pre lubed. And lube is reusable not like thermal compound which you will have to change every time you remove it.

[Keytrun]

I don't understand. If its not prelubed wouldn't the keys on the stabilizers have issues? I have to assume filcos work great out of the box, right?

Edit : can someone tell me how to  get the stabilizer piece out of the key without breaking it?

[rowdy]

I don't understand. If its not prelubed wouldn't the keys on the stabilizers have issues? I have to assume filcos work great out of the box, right?

Edit : can someone tell me how to  get the stabilizer piece out of the key without breaking it?

Very carefully

I have nearly lost a couple of finger nails doing that.

I tend to insert something very thin under one side, lever it up very slightly.  Repeat on the other side.  Keep going until it has lifted slightly.  Then insert a needle-nosed pliers under the front and lever up slightly.  Repeat from the back.  Eventually it pops out.

[terran5992]

I don't understand. If its not prelubed wouldn't the keys on the stabilizers have issues? I have to assume filcos work great out of the box, right?

Edit : can someone tell me how to  get the stabilizer piece out of the key without breaking it?

Stabilizers can work without lube

[SpAmRaY]

I don't understand. If its not prelubed wouldn't the keys on the stabilizers have issues? I have to assume filcos work great out of the box, right?

Edit : can someone tell me how to  get the stabilizer piece out of the key without breaking it?

Normally those pieces come out very easily, in some keycaps they even fall out.

[Keytrun]

If stabilizers can work without lube then why would anyone lube them? I do gaming on this board so I really need my keys to be super responsive.

Also, some of the pieces came out easily, others just wont budge.

EDIT: I'm having an issues with the stabilizer keys. All of them press, but they wont press all the way without having to really be pushed. Its really wired, its like they sort of get stuck in their position and even when I sit there mashing them they still do it. I put the new keys on in the exact same way the old ones were on before. I made sure to keep the exact same stabilizer piece position. There's this video I saw where they rotated the brackets around:

and they're doing it on the blackwidow (which is what I'm using until my filco comes in). Any idea why they did that? I may try it considering these issues I'm having.

EDIT 2: I just turned around the stabilizer brackets and the little brackets on the key itself for the backspace key and it now seems to be working like a charm. Any idea why?

[Keytrun]

Okay guys I just got my Filco in and I'm putting on my Thick PBT set. Has anyone else put thick PBT on a Filco before? I'm having issues with some of the stabilizer keys. They're occasionally getting stuck and if I press them on the side (as opposed to the center of the key) it doesn't push down right. Anyone have any tips? The default keycaps that came with the Filco work fine - its just problematic when I put my thick PBT on.

[rowdy]

Okay guys I just got my Filco in and I'm putting on my Thick PBT set. Has anyone else put thick PBT on a Filco before? I'm having issues with some of the stabilizer keys. They're occasionally getting stuck and if I press them on the side (as opposed to the center of the key) it doesn't push down right. Anyone have any tips? The default keycaps that came with the Filco work fine - its just problematic when I put my thick PBT on.

The stabiliser inserts are not symmetrical.  One side sticks out a bit further than the other side.

The side that sticks out more should be point towards the top of the keyboard (where F1.F12 are).

[MKULTRA]

http://imgur.com/a/nsEDr/

[Keytrun]

Okay guys I just got my Filco in and I'm putting on my Thick PBT set. Has anyone else put thick PBT on a Filco before? I'm having issues with some of the stabilizer keys. They're occasionally getting stuck and if I press them on the side (as opposed to the center of the key) it doesn't push down right. Anyone have any tips? The default keycaps that came with the Filco work fine - its just problematic when I put my thick PBT on.

The stabiliser inserts are not symmetrical.  One side sticks out a bit further than the other side.

The side that sticks out more should be point towards the top of the keyboard (where F1.F12 are).

Yea, I'm aware of that. I pushed the keys a bunch of times and got it working for the most part. What does lubing the stabilizers do exactly? Make the keys easier to press? I feel like my spacebar is a bit harder to press than the other keys (its the same switch as the others). Also - this picture is ambiguous http://i.imgur.com/pSbBD.jpg where exactly on the white piece do you put the lube? On the inside? on the outside? Also - do you rub it in and even it out? This picture: http://i.imgur.com/9dlFWh.jpg just has a line on there without being evened out or anything. In addition - another post someone told me to use tape to better keep the white stabilizer pieces inside the keys. For whatever reason, they're really loose in these keys and came out very easily while putting the keys back on the stabilizers. I'm concerned that they'll come out from normal use of the keys. How exactly can I tape them so they stay on better? Just tape the sides? What kind of tape would be best?

EDIT: Also, http://i.imgur.com/rs0Mx.jpg for the wire parts that are hooked into the keyboard itself - do I need to remove the wire and then lube those spots? Or just do it @ the opening where the wire is exposed? Once I apply my little line in my spots do I need to rub it around?

EDIT 2: I'm a little curious about this video I just saw

it has you lube the insides of the plastic wire holder. The imgur guide doesnt say to do that. Should I? I dont want to over lube and create issues.