Unicomp 104-key Model M coffee spill recovery (dead Ctrl/Caps Lock)

[viley]

Hey all,

I have a very nice Unicomp 104-key Model M that's been serving me well for the last few months.  Now however, I've stupidly managed to spill some coffee (not hot) into the thing.  Seemed like only a few drops got in, around the right side of the space bar (and the keys immediately to the right).
Anyway, right now my left Ctrl and Caps Lock keys aren't working.  They're pretty far from the spillage area and everything else seems to work fine, but yeah, gotta fix it.

I can't open it up at the moment, because I don't have the right hex-nut screwdriver I seem to need.  I did try drying it with some (cool!) air, but no luck there... and after all, coffee isn't just water.  Anything else I should try until I get the tool to open it up?

I did find this thread here, but frustratingly, it seems to be missing a few posts towards the end, so I cannot know what solution ended up working for that user...

Any tips would be highly appreciated!

[fohat.digs]

If water gets between the membranes by capillary action, it can take days to dry out.

[Ramiel]

just wait for your screwdriver.

I think you also should do a bolt mod.

[tp4tissue]

leave it alone.. don't turn it.. if there are big droplets in there, it could run somewhere..

wait for screw driver..

[viley]

Hmmm, thanks.  So once I get that hex-nut driver, what would be the best course of action...?
In that thread linked above, it seems like someone solved a similar case, but the relevant replies seem to be missing    so any pointers would be welcome indeed.

[Ramiel]

Hmmm, thanks.  So once I get that hex-nut driver, what would be the best course of action...?
In that thread linked above, it seems like someone solved a similar case, but the relevant replies seem to be missing    so any pointers would be welcome indeed.

Even you opened the case, there's still nothing you can do except doing a bolt mod in my sense.

[viley]

Excuse the necrobump but I only now managed to get back to this keyboard.

The Caps Lock and left Ctrl keys are still dead.   This is where I'm at....

- Waiting a few days (more like months) for things to dry out didn't do much.
- I've opened up the case, and cleaned up any crud I could see with a q-tip and 99.9% isopropyl alcohol.  Obviously I don't have much access without breaking into the actual assembly, so I didn't expect this to do much... and it hasn't.
- Also squirted some more IPA into the thing using a dropper, over and under the membrane around the problem areas - the actual location of the spill (under the spacebar and to the right), and the left Ctrl and Caps Lock keys.  Let it sit for a few hours, blew some air on it, tried again.  No change.

Still outta luck here-  I'd really rather not drill up and bolt-mod this board, even if I *did* know what to look for once I open the assembly (which I don't).
Can't really send it to Unicomp for repairs either; I'm overseas and the for the cost of the round-trip in shipping I might as well buy a new keyboard.

So, fat chance I know, but is there anything else I could try?  any Model M/Unicomp adepts here who might guess what could've killed these specific two keys?

[ag36]

Excuse the necrobump but I only now managed to get back to this keyboard.

The Caps Lock and left Ctrl keys are still dead.   This is where I'm at....

- Waiting a few days (more like months) for things to dry out didn't do much.
- I've opened up the case, and cleaned up any crud I could see with a q-tip and 99.9% isopropyl alcohol.  Obviously I don't have much access without breaking into the actual assembly, so I didn't expect this to do much... and it hasn't.
- Also squirted some more IPA into the thing using a dropper, over and under the membrane around the problem areas - the actual location of the spill (under the spacebar and to the right), and the left Ctrl and Caps Lock keys.  Let it sit for a few hours, blew some air on it, tried again.  No change.

Still outta luck here-  I'd really rather not drill up and bolt-mod this board, even if I *did* know what to look for once I open the assembly (which I don't).
Can't really send it to Unicomp for repairs either; I'm overseas and the for the cost of the round-trip in shipping I might as well buy a new keyboard.

So, fat chance I know, but is there anything else I could try?  any Model M/Unicomp adepts here who might guess what could've killed these specific two keys?

IPA can dissolve the traces on the membrane, don't. Likely your only chance is bolt-mod. Open it up and wash the membrane with water and do a continuity test.

[viley]

IPA can dissolve the traces on the membrane, don't. Likely your only chance is bolt-mod. Open it up and wash the membrane with water and do a continuity test.

Hm- would have thought that water would damage traces more than alcohol should?

[ag36]

IPA can dissolve the traces on the membrane, don't. Likely your only chance is bolt-mod. Open it up and wash the membrane with water and do a continuity test.

Hm- would have thought that water would damage traces more than alcohol should?

Not on printed traces, they're ink with metal particles in it.

[Kavik]

As others have said, if the membrane is affected, you have to break the assembly apart to clean it. To put it back together, you have to bolt mod it. Bolt modding really isn't very hard; it's just a little time consuming (maybe three hours?).

I thought the Unicomp Ms have spill resistant barrel plates. Was the spill especially eventful?

I do have a spare barrel plate/membrane assembly from Unicomp that I've been sitting on for a year and a half. I'd offer it to you for just the price of shipping, but, as you said, the rates are probably terrible. But if you're interested anyway, let me know.

[viley]

As others have said, if the membrane is affected, you have to break the assembly apart to clean it. To put it back together, you have to bolt mod it. Bolt modding really isn't very hard; it's just a little time consuming (maybe three hours?).

I thought the Unicomp Ms have spill resistant barrel plates. Was the spill especially eventful?

Not very eventful, but I might have made it worse with my turning/moving the keyboard around after the fact... maybe the stuff did run off inside.
OTOH, the thing had survived two spills before that one so perhaps there's something to be said for its resistance.

I do have a spare barrel plate/membrane assembly from Unicomp that I've been sitting on for a year and a half. I'd offer it to you for just the price of shipping, but, as you said, the rates are probably terrible. But if you're interested anyway, let me know.

Thanks! I might take you up on this eventually - even with those rates it'd be more affordable than a new keyboard, or shipping it to Unicomp for repairs and back again.  Is it in working order? Fit for an Ultra Classic 104?
But first, perhaps I'll see about doing the bolt-mod one of these weekends..

[Kavik]

I do have a spare barrel plate/membrane assembly from Unicomp that I've been sitting on for a year and a half. I'd offer it to you for just the price of shipping, but, as you said, the rates are probably terrible. But if you're interested anyway, let me know.

Thanks! I might take you up on this eventually - even with those rates it'd be more affordable than a new keyboard, or shipping it to Unicomp for repairs and back again.  Is it in working order? Fit for an Ultra Classic 104?
But first, perhaps I'll see about doing the bolt-mod one of these weekends..

It is in working order AFAIK; although I haven't been able to test it. It's a brand new replacement Unicomp mistakenly sent me to fix a vintage new old stock M I'd bought (which is incompatible); however, because it was intended for a vintage M, it is a 101 key, not a 104 key. I hadn't thought of that until you mentioned it. Sorry

If your bolt mod fails, I'd suggest emailing Unicomp customer service. You might be able to buy a 104 key inner assembly relatively cheaply.

[ag36]

Brand new 101 assembly? I am interested.