cherry switch does died, how card would it be to change the switch on Filco?

[FinancialWar]

The board is 4 years old now, and the Enter key is going nuts, sometimes it does not register, sometimes it double register.


is it possible to change the switches on this board or I have to look for another board?

[Sniping]

It might not be the switch, maybe the PCB. But you can swap switches with very little soldering, or you can send it to someone to fix it for you.

Orrrr you can sell it and get a new keyboard.

[FinancialWar]

I thought PCB board does not require soldering.

[SpAmRaY]

Filco boards have a plate.

[FinancialWar]

are there any online instruction on how to replace filco keyboard?

[Photekq]

how to replace filco keyboard?

Yes, replacing filco keyboard is very simple. It can be done in two steps :

1. Put your filco in the bin.
2. Buy a new filco.

Hope this helped, friend :^)

[Vibex]

how to replace filco keyboard?

Yes, replacing filco keyboard is very simple. It can be done in two steps :

1. Put your filco in the bin.
2. Buy a new filco.

Hope this helped, friend :^)

lel

[FinancialWar]

so I have to throw away the whole board because of one switch?

[phoenix1234]

how to replace filco keyboard?

Yes, replacing filco keyboard is very simple. It can be done in two steps :

1. Put your filco in the bin.
2. Buy a new filco.

Hope this helped, friend :^)

+1 but I just want to change a bit
1. Put your filco in the bin. Put it here :http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=34585.0
2. Buy a new filco

@OP: Ok, just kidding, I think the problem is the keyswitch because of dust + humidity, I suppose. Actually you can fix the keyswitch easily by replacing it or swapping it with ScrollLock key or any key that you rarely use.

[FinancialWar]

So to fix it i'll need soldering kit and spare switches? are all the switches the same for all types of keyboard? where is the best place to buy them?

in fact, i have three filco keyboards with bad switches, two was previously caused by soft drink so i need to replace them anyway.

[phoenix1234]

So to fix it i'll need soldering kit and spare switches? Where can i get them?

To fix a switch issue on Filco keyboard, I think you need at least these stuffs :
+ A MSR card like Visa or Master to open the keyboard
+ A soldering iron + 2m of solder (0.6mm, 63/37) and a soldering pump. You can get these things at your local electronic store or borrow from your friends.
+ A spare switch would be hard to buy but someone on GH could send to you a switch for free except the shipping costs.

So my advise is to find the root cause with your own risk before buying anything by:
+ make sure that you are using a glove
+ open the keyboard using a screwdriver + a MSR card
+ put the cover away but still keep the usb wire
+ bring it to the computer
+ put it up-side-down on a soft towel
+ plug the keyboard in and open a text editor application
+ use a wire and try to link 2 legs of the Enter key switch position. If you see the Enter key generated correctly as the times that you try to link, the key switch is likely the root cause. If you still see the Enter key randomly generated, the problem would be the PCB / controller, then you may need to investigate the diode or something else

[FinancialWar]

Will these do

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SANSAI-Professional-25W-Electric-Soldering-Iron-Kit-with-soldering-coil-PE-325-/191081810901?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item2c7d5d0bd5&_uhb=1

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CHERRY-MX-Series-Key-Switches-Brown-Axis-ORIGINAL-KEYBOARD-SWITCH-/231002332638?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c8cfddde&_uhb=1

[Sniping]

btw you should try googling your issue next time, making a thread takes longer than googling does.

rip**** guide here:
http://imgur.com/a/fyxIg

[FinancialWar]

maybe you should learn to read first. Of course I googled before posting here. That board does not require soldering while the filco does.

[Sniping]

Not sure if I'm the one that should be reading....a plate mount keyboard is specifically mentioned in that album.


zzzzzz

It would've also lead you to this guide, a full tutorial on soldering switches. http://imgur.com/a/UIhf9

[phoenix1234]

Will these do

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SANSAI-Professional-25W-Electric-Soldering-Iron-Kit-with-soldering-coil-PE-325-/191081810901?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item2c7d5d0bd5&_uhb=1

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/CHERRY-MX-Series-Key-Switches-Brown-Axis-ORIGINAL-KEYBOARD-SWITCH-/231002332638?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c8cfddde&_uhb=1

Switch price is quite high comparing to what they are selling there. But I assume it wouldn't hurt if you only buy a few.

I did not use that soldering iron before, so I don't have any comment.
However if you have any plan to purchase a kit for short-middle term usage you can take a look at mkawa GB as reference
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57970.0
*Don't forget to check your power source if it is 220v or 110v, plus the soldering iron should have at least 30W, the 40W-60W is even better but 80W is quite too much for soldering keyboards

[FinancialWar]

found this video

ps. how come youtube bbcode does not work on this site?

[phoenix1234]

found this video

ps. how come youtube bbcode does not work on this site?

You know, I feel pain at 4:25, he used pincers to pull the switch out 

[SpAmRaY]

found this video

ps. how come youtube bbcode does not work on this site?

bro come on you've been here for 4 years....are you just trolling us?

[FinancialWar]

You can't blame me. Your code is different from instruction on the internet

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/forum/vbulletin-3-8/vbulletin-3-8-questions-problems-and-troubleshooting/vbulletin-quick-tips-and-customizations/204206-how-to-make-a-youtube-bb-code

https://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=549845

[Photekq]

I'm not sure why anyone even bothers to help you. You're such an unpleasant, annoying **** who's incapable of properly using google and the search function.

[SpAmRaY]

I'm not sure why anyone even bothers to help you. You're such an unpleasant, annoying **** who's incapable of properly using google and the search function.

^^ I thought this entire thread was a troll topic, I mean no offense, but someone who has been on geekhack for 4 years doesn't know a filco is plate mounted?

[FinancialWar]

I apologise for my behaviour if there is anyway I can change, please let me know.

[FinancialWar]

I'm not sure why anyone even bothers to help you. You're such an unpleasant, annoying **** who's incapable of properly using google and the search function.

^^ I thought this entire thread was a troll topic, I mean no offense, but someone who has been on geekhack for 4 years doesn't know a filco is plate mounted?

I'm sorry, maybe I have a life outside keyboard and geekhack and don't post f@#$ing 25 posts a day in computer peripheral forum. Are you sure you are not ripster.

[SpAmRaY]

I'm not sure why anyone even bothers to help you. You're such an unpleasant, annoying **** who's incapable of properly using google and the search function.

^^ I thought this entire thread was a troll topic, I mean no offense, but someone who has been on geekhack for 4 years doesn't know a filco is plate mounted?

I'm sorry, maybe I have a life outside keyboard and geekhack and don't post f@#$ing 25 posts a day in computer peripheral forum. Are you sure you are not ripster.

I was thinking the same thing about you bro, the ripster part that is.

[phoenix1234]

So totally I was trolled 

*** never mind, get back to work  ) ***

[FinancialWar]

my account was registered before Ripster was banned. And I only post 0.3 posts a day. Your account was registered after Ripster was banned, and you post 25 posts a day, the same account has Ripster when he was still active.

So you tell me who is the real Ripster.

And I apologise for my lack of knowledge on keyboard, that's why I'm a member of this forum and I come here to ask more knowledge members like yourself.

[FinancialWar]

I'm not trolling you guys WTF seriously. I'm sorry that I do not know about how to solder a mx switch on a mechanical keyboard because you know it's such a common knowledge and I'm so stupid.

[SpAmRaY]

Ok so back on topic. Let's try and get your filco going again.

I see you've got a a couple options, here are what I would consider to be the most reasonable.

1) You can try to sell the filco and buy another. This might be hard because probably no one wants to buy a broken keyboard.

2) You can send the filco to someone who can swap the switch for you and see if it fixes it. This greatly depends on what part of the world you are in and if there is someone around who can help.

3) You can get your own soldering gear and attempt to fix it yourself. Not everyone is a DIY'er and you would have to decide if you really wanted to spend the money on the gear etc. At a minimum you would need something to desolder and resolder and a couple switches, unless you wanted to reuse another switch you didn't care about.

[Hellmark]

I thought PCB board does not require soldering.

You're wrong.

If you're replacing the entire switch, then you do have to solder, regardless of plate or PCB mount. The link you have is just for changing out the springs and stem on a switch, and not the entire switch. Replacing the stem and the spring will not change the contacts, which is probably what is messing up on your enter key.

Any soldering iron should do the trick. Some are better than others, but we're also not talking about you doing a ton of work either. Make sure you get solder wick though, it'll make things much easier (soldapullt, or "solder sucker" are handy too, but for a one off, you can do without).

Now, that all said, part of the problem you're running into here on the forum has more to do with your personality. If you're inexperienced, that's fine, we all were newbies at some point, no worries. However, there have been a few moments where you were contrary to the people who were trying to help you. You cannot ask for help, make an incorrect statement, then snap at people who try to correct you. Also, given the age of your account, and the number of posts you have, there are some things that generally have been expected for you to know. So combo of an old account, asking newbie questions, and being antagonistic, it doesn't take much to assume why people think you are trolling.

[Razor Lotus]

I thought PCB board does not require soldering.

Thanks for the video dude.

I used a fork btw. works just as well but yeah I guess you really need to be careful with it

[Lanx]

your gonna fail.

you know why? cuz you're a soldering noob.

don't worry we were all soldering noobs b4 and we all failed, hell you don't even know what a joint is, what a nice solder looks like, "volcanoes"

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=soldering+101

find an old ass circuit board or something to practice on "old alarm clock, old router, anything"

to do the BARE minimum and buy the BARE stuff you need

solder iron
solder sucker
solder

practice trying to desolder something on an old board, you don't want to **** up your board cuz you're inexperienced.

once you're finally not messing up, then go into the board and desolder enter and scroll lock, swap and solder, should work fine.

or buy switches, you should instead... look to buying an entire donor board for like 40 to 50 bucks and then you have all the browns you want for pretty cheap, or find a better place (you're in AU so i don't know where) to buy browns (or any cherry mx) in bulk.