Opening IBM KB-8923

[EverythingIBM]

I have two IBM KB-8923 keyboards, the best possible quality pure rubber dome you can get, and I can't open them!


I unscrewed all the screws, but, if I pull one side; the other side gets stuck down, and vice versa. These things don't even NEED screws to hold them together. Unlike the more pronounced "lip" on the bottom of Model Ms, these sink down, so, you really have to dig your nails to pull the bottom up; which is why the sides are kind of easier.

I'm trying to open my first one, since, it's VERY dirty (it was the keyboard I used all the time for everything for 13 years). I pulled out all the keys usually to clean it, but, I want to take it all apart, and clean every inch.

Heh, the arrow keys on it are so worn out, that, even the labelling is coming off very slightly, and, you can rotate them in circular motion. I played every single game I own on those arrow keys, so, that's pretty good. NONE of the labels otherwise have worn off, which is absolutely amazing. I typed laods on that keyboard.

If you want keys that will never wear out, use KB-8923 key stems.

[JBert]

Ah yes, I still have a couple of those.

In fact, your problem is that IBM "overengineered" this rubber-dome keyboard. It has actually 12 screws to keep it closed, not just the 8 you can see.

To get to those screws, pop off the following keys:
Q, A, Y, H, [, ", Numpad 8, Numpad 5
Use any key extractor you like. I used a wooden popsicle stick to pry them loose.

Once you unscrew those, the keyboard just falls open, allowing you to gaze at the sheet of rubber and its membrane beneath.

[spolia optima]

I love IBM boards, but this is clearly a keyboard from hell. I had to ceremoniously destroy it.

You destroy keyboards too? Small world. I threw a sun type 3 off the back of a ferry last summer. That's not even a joke.

I keep a whole stack of keyboards for target practice. It's great stress relief.

[ch_123]

For bonus awesome points, you should have used it as a clay pigeon.

How good/not good where those Type 3s anyway? They look like foam'n'foil keyboards as far as I can see.

[JBert]

I love IBM boards, but this is clearly a keyboard from hell. I had to ceremoniously destroy it.

The thing is, for a keyboard from hell, IBM did it well.

[TexasFlood]

I love IBM boards, but this is clearly a keyboard from hell. I had to ceremoniously destroy it.

You don't still have the trackpoint from it, do you? My KB8923 is fine but the trackpoint got stepped on by one of my kids and got destroyed.

[ricercar]

threw a sun type 3 off the back of a ferry last summer.

Once I dropped a payphone off a bridge. Payphones have keypads. Does that count?

[EverythingIBM]

Ah yes, I still have a couple of those.

In fact, your problem is that IBM "overengineered" this rubber-dome keyboard. It has actually 12 screws to keep it closed, not just the 8 you can see.

To get to those screws, pop off the following keys:
Q, A, Y, H, [, ", Numpad 8, Numpad 5
Use any key extractor you like. I used a wooden popsicle stick to pry them loose.

Once you unscrew those, the keyboard just falls open, allowing you to gaze at the sheet of rubber and its membrane beneath.

That's cool! Thanks!

Hopefully I didn't wreck it trying to pry it open. But wrecking one of these would require a lot more than bending the bezel.

The funny thing is, these actually have metal in the back too when I was peeking with the limited space I had.

[microsoft windows]

Ah yes, I still have a couple of those.

In fact, your problem is that IBM "overengineered" this rubber-dome keyboard. It has actually 12 screws to keep it closed, not just the 8 you can see.

To get to those screws, pop off the following keys:
Q, A, Y, H, [, ", Numpad 8, Numpad 5
Use any key extractor you like. I used a wooden popsicle stick to pry them loose.

Once you unscrew those, the keyboard just falls open, allowing you to gaze at the sheet of rubber and its membrane beneath.

For key removing, I  like to use one of those metal things that patches up a PCI or ISA slot. It's easy to wedge right under the key and pry it up without scratching the outside.

[EverythingIBM]

For key removing, I  like to use one of those metal things that patches up a PCI or ISA slot. It's easy to wedge right under the key and pry it up without scratching the outside.

I use an advanced piece of technology called a "butter knife".

And... after you're done opening some IBM keyboards with your butter knife, you can dine at IBM; so your butter knife will have a multi-purpose:

[itlnstln]

Once I dropped a payphone off a bridge. Payphones have keypads. Does that count?

Were there any coins in the return slot, Dobie?

[kriminal]

im against littering....
however using rubberdomes as clay pigeons - priceless

[ricercar]

Were there any coins in the return slot, Dobie?

No, but there was a hole in the coin box about as deep as 3 diamond-tipped bits would get. (Not very.)

[captain]

what about Wyse KB-8923?  Same thing?