Author Topic: Slight problem with my Model M (Read 1737 times)

erricrice · « **on:** Sat, 15 August 2009, 11:57:53 »

So the space bar on my model M will actually register a key long before the key clicks. You can push down very lightly on the key itself and it will register a keystroke. Not really a problem since I don't usually rest my fingers on the space bar, but I could see it as getting slightly annoying

Any ideas? I've taken the key off a number of times to make sure that everything is set right, but to no avail, still does it.

erricrice · « **Reply #1 on:** Sat, 15 August 2009, 12:39:43 »

That's what I thought too which is why I was kinda confused, but I am sure that it is registering before it clicks. It is right before it clicks, but still before to the point where I don't even have to push the key down until it springs. It's possible that the spring is bent, but from where I am I can't see anything that is out of place.

ch_123 · « **Reply #2 on:** Sat, 15 August 2009, 12:52:51 »

Sounds like it could be something wrong with the hammer... Im afraid that a complete disassembly would probably be required.

lecorsair · « **Reply #3 on:** Sat, 15 August 2009, 12:53:25 »

Possible that the spring is getting "old". I swapped out some springs from a spare brand new model M into my M13 and I can definitely tell the difference with the new springs. Try swapping the spacebar spring with another less-used spring from the "Print Screen/Scroll Lock/Pause" keys and see if it changes anything.

erricrice · « **Reply #4 on:** Sat, 15 August 2009, 14:38:25 »

Thanks for all the ideas guys, I love how quickly and plentifully you guys flow ideas here!!
I will definitely keep my eye on this thread in case anything gets worse or if it starts to get more annoying, but for right now it's really not a problem so I'm not going to get into any disassembly really.
This is my first M and I don't have any money to replace it right now and I absolutely do not trust myself enough with keyboards yet to take it apart lol. Again, thanks and I'll keep you posted.

Mercen_505 · « **Reply #5 on:** Sat, 15 August 2009, 14:57:13 »

Quote

That's what I thought too which is why I was kinda confused, but I am sure that it is registering before it clicks.

One of my Ms was like this for a while. The spring on one key got caught as I was turning it around (during cleaning) and was stretched slightly. The spring would still buckle, but if you pressed the key very slowly you could get it to register before the 'click'. Once the spring is b0rked the only way to correct the condition is through replacing it.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #6 on:** Sat, 15 August 2009, 15:48:39 »

A model M can also survive just fine with some broken rivets. I took some off mine to service the right Alt key and everything's functional.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #7 on:** Sat, 15 August 2009, 16:11:32 »

I replaced the spring in my right Alt key with one I took out of a ball-point pen and it works fine.

erricrice · « **Reply #8 on:** Sat, 15 August 2009, 18:08:09 »

I'll probably end up swapping the scroll lock spring with the spacebar spring, is there a guide around here on how to swap the springs? Thanks for the offer though ripster!

And yeah there were a couple of times where the springs got in some strange positions when I was shaking all the crap out of this thing haha. I wouldn't be surprised if it was bent or pulled out a little or something like that.

Still ****ing LOVE this thing though!

HA!
Found it!
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=5265

I'll let you guys know if I need any help haha!

Edit:

A little more involved than I thought(was thinking maybe take off back panel or something). I think I'm going to stick with leaving it alone unless it becomes annoying which as of right now it's really not. I know I know, I should do it anyway haha, but right now I'm just a little too worried about hurting it and plus I'm a little under-tooled right now. Need to get me some good little tools for this kind of stuff.

ch_123 · « **Reply #9 on:** Sat, 15 August 2009, 18:19:13 »

To get access to the springs, you'd need to pop open the actual keyboard assembly. There are guides for this somewhere around the forum. Chances are however that after reseating the hammers, the problem may go away. The Y key in my Model F suffered from intermittent problems before I opened it up and reseated everything.

Rajagra · « **Reply #10 on:** Sat, 15 August 2009, 21:39:46 »

Quote from: erricrice;109870

I've taken the key off a number of times to make sure that everything is set right, but to no avail, still does it.

How many times? I've had some keys that took six or seven tries to reseat properly so they click. Sometimes tipping the keyboard backwards or forwards helps. Reseating the key slowly in a controlled way definitely helps.

Rajagra · « **Reply #11 on:** Sat, 15 August 2009, 22:55:24 »

Quote from: ripster;109994

I'm all for persistence but if you look at the keystem upside down you'll see that a slight tilt of the front of keyboard upward and guiding the spring into the key guarantees it will be as good as it gets.

Logic might say that, but there were some keys where I had to tilt the board forwards, not backwards. I have no explanation, but trust me, it worked.

News:

Author Topic: Slight problem with my Model M (Read 1737 times)