How to fix unreliable switch?

[DanielJanzon]

I have a TEK with Cherry MX brown and the m key works only 90 % of the time or so, creating a lot of spelling errors. I removed the key cap and looked at the switch but there seems to be no defect at all. They keyboard is about two years old.

As a sample of the problem, if I type "com " repeatedly, this is the result:  com com co com com com co com co com com com com co com co co co com comc omc o com com com com com com com com co com.

Anyone know what could typically be the problem? Can a cold soldering result in partial failure?

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Although a bad joint could cause this, it is most probably a mechanical failure of the switch, perhaps caused by something getting lodged inside the switch, such as some dust or a hair.

You can try blowing the switch out with compressed air (press switch down, blow air, let switch go).

If that still doesn't work, you could replace the switch.

As the keyboard is about 2 years old it is probably not still under warranty.  However if it is under warranty, and it is practical for you to return the keyboard, it is an option definitely worth pursuing.

[DanielJanzon]

Thank you!  It worked with the press-switch-down, blow-air, let-go strategy.  I used Peach Air Duster to blow  

[rowdy]