Author Topic: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?  (Read 3701 times)

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Offline f32h80fsd08h34r5

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Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« on: Sat, 29 July 2017, 13:01:21 »
Here is a video of the issue,


Has anyone else had a similar issue? If so what did you do?

I've already opened it up on the inside, the stabalizer bar moves smoothly, and nothing is obstructing it. I couldn't find any other threads with this same issue, so it's likely my own fault.

I haven't spilled anything on it, and rarely eat near it. The problem seems to be originating from the Left-hand stabilizer.
« Last Edit: Sat, 29 July 2017, 13:02:53 by sam0s »

Offline clee290

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Re: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 29 July 2017, 14:56:57 »
I haven't experienced this with my HHKB. Do you have another space bar you can test with? Or maybe it could be an issue with the spring?

Offline f32h80fsd08h34r5

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Re: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 29 July 2017, 15:22:20 »
I haven't experienced this with my HHKB. Do you have another space bar you can test with? Or maybe it could be an issue with the spring?

I don't use the spring lol. I've changed spacebar caps a few times now. I fiddled with the stabs a bit (basically just puling and pushing with my fingers) and it seems to be sticking a lot less now! So I am just going to stop messing with it for now.

It doesn't cause problems with normal gaming/typing. Feels like new  :thumb:


Offline hasu

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Re: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 29 July 2017, 16:17:53 »
I had the issue when I applied too much grease on stabs and also did't use spring on space bar.

Offline f32h80fsd08h34r5

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Re: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 29 July 2017, 16:31:37 »
I had the issue when I applied too much grease on stabs and also did't use spring on space bar.

 Thick amount of grease/lube would make sense, I'll open it back up and maybe "dry" it out a bit.

Offline SICAR187

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Re: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 29 July 2017, 18:47:29 »
I had similar experience when I lubed, I still had it open, so I just went back over it with a dry brush.


Edit: I never closed the board, simply flipped it back and forth a few times after I was done lubing. I the sliders never got stuck, but actuation was very slow. After going over it, no more issues. MMV
« Last Edit: Sat, 29 July 2017, 18:51:49 by SICAR187 »

Offline f32h80fsd08h34r5

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Re: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 29 July 2017, 19:24:12 »
I had similar experience when I lubed, I still had it open, so I just went back over it with a dry brush.


Edit: I never closed the board, simply flipped it back and forth a few times after I was done lubing. I the sliders never got stuck, but actuation was very slow. After going over it, no more issues. MMV

It's working great now! Pretty much did the same thing as you, but with a small pocket knife.  :))

Offline SICAR187

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Re: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« Reply #8 on: Sat, 29 July 2017, 21:52:43 »
I had similar experience when I lubed, I still had it open, so I just went back over it with a dry brush.


Edit: I never closed the board, simply flipped it back and forth a few times after I was done lubing. I the sliders never got stuck, but actuation was very slow. After going over it, no more issues. MMV

It's working great now! Pretty much did the same thing as you, but with a small pocket knife.  :))

 Cool. Next time I lube, I'll go with thin, I think it'll be a lot more forgiving.

Offline Polymer

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Re: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 30 July 2017, 19:11:36 »
Here is a video of the issue,


Has anyone else had a similar issue? If so what did you do?

I've already opened it up on the inside, the stabalizer bar moves smoothly, and nothing is obstructing it. I couldn't find any other threads with this same issue, so it's likely my own fault.

I haven't spilled anything on it, and rarely eat near it. The problem seems to be originating from the Left-hand stabilizer.

Is this a stock ABS spacebar (from a realforce set) or a PBT one?  It sounds like PBT.

If it is a PBT one, it is because the spacebar is warped and you'll need to straighten it..If it is ABS does this happen w/ the stock space bar as well?

Offline f32h80fsd08h34r5

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Re: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 30 July 2017, 21:01:32 »
Here is a video of the issue,

Has anyone else had a similar issue? If so what did you do?

I've already opened it up on the inside, the stabalizer bar moves smoothly, and nothing is obstructing it. I couldn't find any other threads with this same issue, so it's likely my own fault.

I haven't spilled anything on it, and rarely eat near it. The problem seems to be originating from the Left-hand stabilizer.

Is this a stock ABS spacebar (from a realforce set) or a PBT one?  It sounds like PBT.

If it is a PBT one, it is because the spacebar is warped and you'll need to straighten it..If it is ABS does this happen w/ the stock space bar as well?

ABS From the realforce

Offline Polymer

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Re: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« Reply #11 on: Mon, 31 July 2017, 05:31:01 »
Do you have this problem w/ the stock space bar as well?

I've only seen this happen with PBT Spacebars because they're warped...it could be your RF spacebar is slightly warped...


Offline f32h80fsd08h34r5

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Re: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 31 July 2017, 12:18:14 »
Do you have this problem w/ the stock space bar as well?

I've only seen this happen with PBT Spacebars because they're warped...it could be your RF spacebar is slightly warped...

It happens with all spacebars that I own, including the stock one.     

Offline Polymer

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Re: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« Reply #13 on: Mon, 31 July 2017, 18:19:27 »
And it was like that the whole time?  Your post suggests not given you said "It is probably my own fault". 

Bent stabilizer wire maybe?  Since you opened it up you can take a look..you said it was smooth but you can't tell unless the spacebar is on there...must be a bend that is making it torque against that inner piece that holds it there..

Offline f32h80fsd08h34r5

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Re: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« Reply #14 on: Mon, 31 July 2017, 20:25:14 »
And it was like that the whole time?  Your post suggests not given you said "It is probably my own fault". 

Bent stabilizer wire maybe?  Since you opened it up you can take a look..you said it was smooth but you can't tell unless the spacebar is on there...must be a bend that is making it torque against that inner piece that holds it there..

That is a possibility, it only happens when I press on the left side of the spacebar. I'll have to open it up again eventually and check, but last time I looked it didn't seem bent.

Offline Polymer

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Re: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« Reply #15 on: Tue, 01 August 2017, 07:45:33 »
And it was like that the whole time?  Your post suggests not given you said "It is probably my own fault". 

Bent stabilizer wire maybe?  Since you opened it up you can take a look..you said it was smooth but you can't tell unless the spacebar is on there...must be a bend that is making it torque against that inner piece that holds it there..

That is a possibility, it only happens when I press on the left side of the spacebar. I'll have to open it up again eventually and check, but last time I looked it didn't seem bent.

But you didn't answer the question..was it like that the entire time? 

The fact that it happens when you press the left side seems to suggest it is an uneven stabilizer bar that is causing a lot of friction..

Offline f32h80fsd08h34r5

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Re: Topre stabalizer sticking on upstroke?
« Reply #16 on: Tue, 01 August 2017, 11:36:23 »
And it was like that the whole time?  Your post suggests not given you said "It is probably my own fault". 

Bent stabilizer wire maybe?  Since you opened it up you can take a look..you said it was smooth but you can't tell unless the spacebar is on there...must be a bend that is making it torque against that inner piece that holds it there..

That is a possibility, it only happens when I press on the left side of the spacebar. I'll have to open it up again eventually and check, but last time I looked it didn't seem bent.

But you didn't answer the question..was it like that the entire time? 

The fact that it happens when you press the left side seems to suggest it is an uneven stabilizer bar that is causing a lot of friction..

It is honestly a possibility, I didn't notice it until recently. Like I said you have to apply an unusual amount of force to cause it. So it could have been there all along and I just never noticed it.
I was playing a video game that required me to hold space for an extended period, and when I released, that's when I noticed it.