Weird Cherry Blue screw up

[ch_123]

So, my right Alt's switch on my Filco has gone wonky. It actuates correctly, but it doesn't click - either in terms of sound or tactility. I tried pressing the switch down and airdusting into it, but that did nothing. It's definitely not a keycap issue. Any suggestions?

[ch_123]

What happened was that I planned on selling it, didn't quite get the time, and then took it out of the box one day to use it and I found that I quite liked it, so I'm keeping it.

I might pop the key open if I get the time. I'd say that something has come loose inside it, and dusting it and reseating it should work.

[elservo]

Yeah, I would doubt that the ALT key broke, and I'd bet something just got shifted within the switch.  I'd panic if that happened to mine because I don't have any replacement switches laying around, and Ripster would probably charge me 50 bucks for one new switch.

[skcheng]

What happened was that I planned on selling it, didn't quite get the time, and then took it out of the box one day to use it and I found that I quite liked it, so I'm keeping it.

I might pop the key open if I get the time. I'd say that something has come loose inside it, and dusting it and reseating it should work.

I would just de-solder and swap out that switch.   Did you see the thread where I replaced the Cherry Blue on my space bar??  It was all corroded and gunked up.   A few minutes with a soldering iron and that switch was replaced.   Let me know if you need a switch?   I have a few extra and I could drop them in the mail .....

[Iceman]

So, my right Alt's switch on my Filco has gone wonky. It actuates correctly, but it doesn't click - either in terms of sound or tactility. I tried pressing the switch down and airdusting into it, but that did nothing. It's definitely not a keycap issue. Any suggestions?

I had a similar thing happen to me on my brand new (4 day old) 87 key. The "c" key on mine doesn't have a crisp click anymore. It does click but only very lightly and only if I press the key slowly. I'm getting a key puller this week and am going to try cleaning the switch with a gas duster. I hope that solves the issue for me as I'm not confident in my ability to replace the switch.

[ch_123]

I would just de-solder and swap out that switch.   Did you see the thread where I replaced the Cherry Blue on my space bar??  It was all corroded and gunked up.   A few minutes with a soldering iron and that switch was replaced.   Let me know if you need a switch?   I have a few extra and I could drop them in the mail .....

I thought it was practically impossible to desolder a plate-mounted Cherry switch?

[sixty]

I thought it was practically impossible to desolder a plate-mounted Cherry switch?

I think you got confused here. It is practically impossible to spring-swap a plate mounted Cherry switch without desoldering it. Desoldering plate mounted switches is no problem at all. They pop off very easily once desoldered if you put some pressure (for example with a pen) to the biggest plastic "nub".

[ch_123]

I fixed it. I was looking at the switch and I noticed that there was a gap in the bottom on the left hand side, through which a hair was stuck. I removed the hair with a tweezers and the switch started clicking again.