Left Control Key Questions on Realforce 87U (55g)

[Shyfe]

I just pulled off the left control key on my keyboard and noticed there was a layer of white grease around the plunger's ring. Is this normal and what is it for?

Also, after doing this, I noticed the left control key is pretty wobbly compared to the rest of the keys. Is this normal as well?

Thanks.

[Puddsy]

Left control uses a lubed slider, and there's another reason too, but I forget.

It should also be purple.

[Shyfe]

what should be purple? the grease or the slider? the slider is black and the lube is white.

[ComradeSniper]

I noticed this as well and thought that the wobble was a manufacturing defect, but since I have my left control set to caps lock it rarely gets used so I didn't mind it much. Maybe it's a normal thing? What's the reason for the wobble?

[eth0s]

Left control uses a lubed slider, and there's another reason too, but I forget.

It should also be purple.

The purple sliders are the silent versions.  He should have the plain black ones.  Also the grease was added by Brian @ EK, AFAIK.  It's there for some beneficial reason, but like TacStach, I can't remember either, lol.  But it's definitely a good thing.  Grease is better than no grease.  Why are you taking the keycaps off anyway?  Put those caps back on, and get back to work, or gaming or watching Laura Branigan on Youtube:

[Shyfe]

Left control uses a lubed slider, and there's another reason too, but I forget.

It should also be purple.

I was just curious what the LED setup looked like. Haha.

The purple sliders are the silent versions.  He should have the plain black ones.  Also the grease was added by Brian @ EK, AFAIK.  It's there for some beneficial reason, but like TacStach, I can't remember either, lol.  But it's definitely a good thing.  Grease is better than no grease.  Why are you taking the keycaps off anyway?  Put those caps back on, and get back to work, or gaming or watching Laura Branigan on Youtube:

[Polymer]

The switches w/ the LED have some funny mod on the bottom (I guess to fit the LED).  It is what makes the switch not as stable (it wobbles).  There are some pictures out there that show the plunger..it is a modified one....

[SpAmRaY]

It's weird because that is the only key that has anything lube/grease on it.

[eth0s]

It's weird because that is the only key that has anything lube/grease on it.

Yeah, it is weird.  but I guess EK Brian just likes to lube the Ctrl's.  I think there was some complaint about that key squeaking or something.  I dunno.  Well, tbh, idc.  Both my RF's from EK Brian came with lubed L Ctrl's.  I just didn't make a big deal about it. 

@OP, you were just looking for the LED?  lol.  There is not one there.  That's the goofiest part of the L Ctrl.  It has that window, but not an LED.  But it gets lubed.  So many mysteries in this universe, I have so many questions for G*d when I die.

[ComradeSniper]

It's weird because that is the only key that has anything lube/grease on it.

Yeah, it is weird.  but I guess EK Brian just likes to lube the Ctrl's.  I think there was some complaint about that key squeaking or something.  I dunno.  Well, tbh, idc.  Both my RF's from EK Brian came with lubed L Ctrl's.  I just didn't make a big deal about it. 

@OP, you were just looking for the LED?  lol.  There is not one there.  That's the goofiest part of the L Ctrl.  It has that window, but not an LED.  But it gets lubed.  So many mysteries in this universe, I have so many questions for G*d when I die.

Huh? Left control has an LED...

[eth0s]

It's weird because that is the only key that has anything lube/grease on it.

Yeah, it is weird.  but I guess EK Brian just likes to lube the Ctrl's.  I think there was some complaint about that key squeaking or something.  I dunno.  Well, tbh, idc.  Both my RF's from EK Brian came with lubed L Ctrl's.  I just didn't make a big deal about it. 

@OP, you were just looking for the LED?  lol.  There is not one there.  That's the goofiest part of the L Ctrl.  It has that window, but not an LED.  But it gets lubed.  So many mysteries in this universe, I have so many questions for G*d when I die.

Huh? Left control has an LED...

It does?  Not on either of mine.  I have the 87UW all-45g, and the 87UB silent variable.  Neither has an LED in that L. Ctrl.  F*CK BURGERS!!! IF EK BRIAN RIPPED ME OFF, I'LL ** EDIT - I'll be disappointed in my fellow man. 

[ComradeSniper]

It's weird because that is the only key that has anything lube/grease on it.

Yeah, it is weird.  but I guess EK Brian just likes to lube the Ctrl's.  I think there was some complaint about that key squeaking or something.  I dunno.  Well, tbh, idc.  Both my RF's from EK Brian came with lubed L Ctrl's.  I just didn't make a big deal about it. 

@OP, you were just looking for the LED?  lol.  There is not one there.  That's the goofiest part of the L Ctrl.  It has that window, but not an LED.  But it gets lubed.  So many mysteries in this universe, I have so many questions for G*d when I die.

Huh? Left control has an LED...

It does?  Not on either of mine.  I have the 87UW all-45g, and the 87UB silent variable.  Neither has an LED in that L. Ctrl.  F*CK BURGERS!!! IF EK BRIAN RIPPED ME OFF, I'LL ** EDIT - I'll be disappointed in my fellow man.

Lazy potato pic incoming



Maybe it's just the 55g version?

[Shyfe]

It's weird because that is the only key that has anything lube/grease on it.

Yeah, it is weird.  but I guess EK Brian just likes to lube the Ctrl's.  I think there was some complaint about that key squeaking or something.  I dunno.  Well, tbh, idc.  Both my RF's from EK Brian came with lubed L Ctrl's.  I just didn't make a big deal about it. 

@OP, you were just looking for the LED?  lol.  There is not one there.  That's the goofiest part of the L Ctrl.  It has that window, but not an LED.  But it gets lubed.  So many mysteries in this universe, I have so many questions for G*d when I die.

Huh? Left control has an LED...

It does?  Not on either of mine.  I have the 87UW all-45g, and the 87UB silent variable.  Neither has an LED in that L. Ctrl.  F*CK BURGERS!!! IF EK BRIAN RIPPED ME OFF, I'LL ** EDIT - I'll be disappointed in my fellow man. 

It does. Just go on the back and flip the first DIP switch on, unplug/replug keyboard. The LED only works when it's serving as caps lock.

[tbc]

that left ctrl is really annoying to look at.  it's clearly not as perfectly oriented as the rest of the keys.  feels fine though, so i'm cool with it.

[spiceBar]

The switches w/ the LED have some funny mod on the bottom (I guess to fit the LED).  It is what makes the switch not as stable (it wobbles).  There are some pictures out there that show the plunger..it is a modified one....

Actually that's the switch housing that is different. It has to accommodate for the LED. When I modded my Realforces I couldn't simply put a landing pad around the plunger because of this difference. The landing pad would end up jammed in the housing when the key went back in the "top" position. I had to cut 2 small pieces in a landing pad and glue them to the switch housing.

So this Ctrl key is definitely different and it definitely feels different. It's normal. There is nothing to fix. There is nothing wrong with the OP's keyboard.

[Puddsy]

I've learned from this thread that RFs are strange

who needs and LED on LCTRL?

[SpAmRaY]

I've learned from this thread that RFs are strange

who needs and LED on LCTRL?

It's there for when you swap it to be caps lock.

[Puddsy]

I've learned from this thread that RFs are strange

who needs and LED on LCTRL?

It's there for when you swap it to be caps lock.

pff

I have it mapped to shift

but that makes sense

[spiceBar]

I've learned from this thread that RFs are strange

who needs and LED on LCTRL?

It's there for when you swap it to be caps lock.

pff

I have it mapped to shift

but that makes sense

Shift???