Mechanical Keyboard Stabilizer Problem

[Faceman]

Hello!

My first time on this forum, I was told this is the place to go with my specific problem.

I just purchased a Ducky Shine Legend(Silver Body) with MX Blues and Blue Backlighting. The keyboard is beautiful and I am really smitten by it.  Problem is, the stabilizers on the Enter and Backspace key are all out of whack.



The backspace key is much worse than the Enter key, but both are not really acceptable.

The Enter key, you can see the stabilizers are not on the same level. The stabilizers are not working together in tandem. It looks like one side is up while the other is down. They don't bounce back up when you press on them. They just kinda stick down.  It gives me this awful mushy feeling and unpleasant sound.  The enter key, at least they are working in tandem and bounce back up when you press on them, but it is still not as fluid as the other keys with stabilizers.

Any idea what I can do to fix this?  I am a novice, so please hold my hand through this process.  If you think I should return it I will, but I would like to avoid that if at all possible because NCIX returns are the devil.

Thank you!  Hope to be a lasting member of this community, and if anyone has some questions about computer hardware, I am happy to share my more specific knowledge.

[CPTBadAss]

Cherry Stabilizers are known to feel mushy. To counter this, you can clip them. Here's some links.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=34759.0
http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/cherry-corp-stabilizers-gimme-back-my-clack-ok-whaaat-t2780.html

To remove your stabilizers, you'll have to desolder some switches. Maybe all of them. You'd have to get the plate and PCB loose enough that you could fish out the stabilizers.

You can also try reseating the stabilizers and/or lubing them.

[Faceman]

Thank you for that, I will give it a look over.

I am a novice, so I am very apprehensive about taking apart the keyboard and soldering anything.  I do have the solder gun and materials, etc.. but I am still fairly dubious to doing this on a brand new keyboard.  I do know that a mechanical keyboard is an investment and it should last for years if taken care of properly.  I came into this expecting to do a grease job every few months, I didn't think I would have to start soldering on day one.

All of the stabilizers are really good and feel great except for the Enter and Backspace.  The Enter is really not that bad compared to the Backspace.  I can live with the Enter key the way it is.  The Backspace though... it is not responsive, mushy, and uneven.  I bet the stem on the right side isn't even connected into the right stabilizer because it is not even.

Anyways, thank you for those links, I will give them a look over and see how I feel about tearing this thing down once I get more familiar with what that actually entails.

[metalliqaz]

If the keys are sticking on a new keyboard, I would just RMA it.

The "mushy" cherry stabilizers is only something you can feel when you bottom out, and it never makes the key stick.  Sounds like yours is actually broken, so you probably don't want to void your warranty by modding.

[Faceman]

@CPTBadAss

After reading through those links, I don't feel like opening up and doing soldering to a brand new keyboard.  My worry is that if I RMA or return this keyboard, I will end up spending another $15 on shipping, wait another 8 business days, only to get another keyboard with a similar or worse problem.  Maybe I have it good with just one key being a problem?

 Is having just one key with bad stabilizers par for the course on a new keyboard?  The other stabilizers feel really good.  No mush, great sound.  Its just the damn Backspace key that is bad.  Is it worth all that trouble?  Should I be lucky that it is just one key that is bad?

[Melvang]

Thank you for that, I will give it a look over.

I am a novice, so I am very apprehensive about taking apart the keyboard and soldering anything.  I do have the solder gun and materials, etc.. but I am still fairly dubious to doing this on a brand new keyboard.  I do know that a mechanical keyboard is an investment and it should last for years if taken care of properly.  I came into this expecting to do a grease job every few months, I didn't think I would have to start soldering on day one.

All of the stabilizers are really good and feel great except for the Enter and Backspace.  The Enter is really not that bad compared to the Backspace.  I can live with the Enter key the way it is.  The Backspace though... it is not responsive, mushy, and uneven.  I bet the stem on the right side isn't even connected into the right stabilizer because it is not even.

Anyways, thank you for those links, I will give them a look over and see how I feel about tearing this thing down once I get more familiar with what that actually entails.

After reading through those links, I don't feel like opening up and doing soldering to a brand new keyboard.  My worry is that if I RMA or return this keyboard, I will end up spending another $15 on shipping, wait another 8 business days, only to get another keyboard with a similar or worse problem.  Maybe I have it good with just one key being a problem?

 Is having just one key with bad stabilizers par for the course on a new keyboard?  The other stabilizers feel really good.  No mush, great sound.  Its just the damn Backspace key that is bad.  Is it worth all that trouble?  Should I be lucky that it is just one key that is bad?

I would RMA it.  Those stabilizers should be very close to the same height.  Cherry stabs are always going to feel mushy at bottom out unless you clip them.  The only time bad stabs could be expected as par for the course is when it is Razer.

[Faceman]

@Metalliqaz

The Backspace keycap is not sticking, it is "sticky." Its specifically the stabilizer.  It still actuates and everything, it bounces back up when I type, just not as responsive as the other keys with stabilizers. It feels god awful.  It is stiff, and mushy.  The stabilizers are not even, its probably only connected to one side of the stabilizer because of the unevenness.  If I hit it dead center where the actual switch is, its not so bad, but anywhere else and it gives me that bad sound and feel.

I might try greasing it up a little before going through with an RMA.  I have some Slick Honey Bike Grease that I could try if I could get anyone to confirm that it is ok to use on a keyboard.

[CPTBadAss]

I would just RMA it if it's new to be honest. I wouldn't try greasing anything if you plan on sending it back. And I'm hesitant on saying that bike grease is good but you can try it.

And your problem sounds like it could be solved by clipping the stems. I find that Cherry modifiers in general are mushy. Regardless of them being new or not.

If your expectation is that it should work out of the box as is, RMA it.

[Faceman]

Thanks CPTBadAss.  Hah, that sounds funny to write.  I like it.

I'm really hesitant to RMA it.  NCIX is the worst.

I honestly don't find the other stabilizer keys to be mushy.  The Enter key has actually been getting better with some use, not perfect, but better.

My biggest fear with RMAing it is that I end up spending more money, waiting longer, and getting a keyboard that is even worse.  Everything on this one is great except the damn Backspace.  My expectation is to get a working product out of the box whenever I buy something, as should anyone's expectation be, especially at this price point.

I dunno.  I am going to contact NCIX directly and see if I can get an expedited shipping and not having to pay for shipping back to them.

[metalliqaz]

Have you taken the cap off and looked at it?

Also, while building custom boards, especially my own cheap ones, I have had to "spread" the stabilizers occasionally to get the key to glide correctly.

[Faceman]

edit

[Faceman]

Have you taken the cap off and looked at it?

Also, while building custom boards, especially my own cheap ones, I have had to "spread" the stabilizers occasionally to get the key to glide correctly.

@metalliqaz

Yea, look at the original post.  There is a big closeup picture of the stabilizers.  The bottom one is the Enter key which is normal. The top one is the backspace key, and you can see that the stabilizers aren't even.  The one on the left is recessed, and they don't work together is tandem.  Without the keycap on, when I press down on them, they get stuck at the bottom.  I have to physically pull them up so that I can attach the Backspace keycap back on.

What does "spreading" the stabilizers entail?  I do not want to open up the board.  The most I am willing to do is remove the keycap and fix it from there.  Reason is, because I don't know enough about mechanical keyboards, and I don't want to void the warranty on something I might end up returning.

I just want to say, thank you guys for helping my newbie ass out.

[falkentyne]

If non corrosive silicon gel doesn't fix it, RMA the keyboard.  You just happened to draw the short stick this time.  There is a metal clip under the stabilizer, but unlike costar stabilizers, that requires unscrewing the board.  You'll have less hassle dealing with NCIX than trying to fix it yourself.  While many people on these forums fix keyboards left and right, that requires tools, parts, and a lot of previous knowledge.  Now you could make it a project and open up and replace the stabilizer, but the best choice of action is to RMA.

[Faceman]

If non corrosive silicon gel doesn't fix it, RMA the keyboard.  You just happened to draw the short stick this time.  There is a metal clip under the stabilizer, but unlike costar stabilizers, that requires unscrewing the board.  You'll have less hassle dealing with NCIX than trying to fix it yourself.  While many people on these forums fix keyboards left and right, that requires tools, parts, and a lot of previous knowledge.  Now you could make it a project and open up and replace the stabilizer, but the best choice of action is to RMA.

Ok, I'm going to RMA it.  While I do have all of the tools, I lack the knowledge, and that is what is most unnerving to me.  If I had extra stabilizers, because I hear they are fragile, then I might attempt a self fix, but while I have this 15 day grace period, and 1 year warranty, I might as well just do the RMA.  Maybe when I get the new one, and a year passes, I will try and take it apart, but until then, no reason to void my warranty.

Thank you everyone, this is an awesome forum.

[KHAANNN]

After looking at that pictures, I'm glad I'm sticking to Costar's

Might be a good idea, for your next keyboard

You will probably have issues again, but they are solveable and more easily solveable

[Faceman]

After talking to more Ducky Shine Legend owners, this is actually a common problem it seems.  I posted my review of the keyboard, and all of a sudden, a few other Ducky Legend owners all came forward saying the same thing is happening to their Backspace key, as well as other stabilizer keys.  The consensus is that the Backspace key is the worst, but the other stabilizers are pretty bad too.

One guy was even kind enough to post a video of his keyboard.  His backspace key is pretty bad, sounds just like mine.  His left shift key is also really bad he claims.

feature=youtu.be

I am starting to this this is just an issue with the Legend keyboards as a whole.  I might even consider myself lucky having just one key that is bad, because that guy in the video has two that are really bad.

[skuko]

After looking at that pictures, I'm glad I'm sticking to Costar's

what this man said, or go topre