Topre Problem Spring / Dome

[Vloshko]

My "A" key has been having a few issues on my HHKB Pro 2. I completely disassembled it and did a full cleaning as I have done every 2-3 months to no avail. I have two of them, this one I've had for a year the other is in Israel. I swapped a spring and dome from a key I use less often. now it works fine, but I still need the full use of board to complete work. I've searched GH for replacement parts, most threads lead to nothing (aside from salvaging other boards) though they are outdated by a few years.

Could anyone point me in an easier direction or offer advice?

edit: I'm going to try and see if it's the dome, spring, or both, I'll test some combinations.

[Peripheral Prophet]

My "A" key has been having a few issues on my HHKB Pro 2. I completely disassembled it and did a full cleaning as I have done every 2-3 months to no avail. I have two of them, this one I've had for a year the other is in Israel. I swapped a spring and dome from a key I use less often. now it works fine, but I still need the full use of board to complete work. I've searched GH for replacement parts, most threads lead to nothing (aside from salvaging other boards) though they are outdated by a few years.

Could anyone point me in an easier direction or offer advice?

edit: I'm going to try and see if it's the dome, spring, or both, I'll test some combinations.

When reassembling topre boards, make sure to take your time seating the rubber dome properly..  Ive put boards back together, only to have to take them apart because the rubber dome some how became pinched, even though I was being careful to assemble everything so that wouldnt happen.

I dont really understand if you are having a malfunction with the board, or the dome itself, or the spring..  Can you clarify and or let us know what did or didnt work to address this issue.

Hope that helps, I understand how frustrating that can be.

[Vloshko]

I'm convinced it's the spring.

edit: I would think had had something to do with the pcb pad, but that doesn't make sense, since moving springs swapped "problem" & "not-problem" locations.

[typo]

Vloshko, Ma ha’matsav?! It would be cool if Topre made a Hebrew board! I have some I got in Tel Aviv but not Topre. Just rubber domes. If I ever have an issue(rare) I just clean contacts with rubbing alcohol. You just might not be able to fix it if the contact is worn/scratched. I hope you can but sorry for bad news. Although it could just be installed improperly. Worst case you can get a new PCB. Cup rubber and springs rarely break. I am guessing it is an installation issue. Since you keep taking it apart. To keep taking it apart is not a good thing IMO. At the least, strip case screws eventually. If cup rubber is pinched for a long time it may remain that way. It is very easy to overlook. I would recommend try to fix it and stop taking it apart so often. I beat the heck out of them, clean once a year and all work fine. Mine have even had their share of Coca Cola. These are pretty bulletproof boards. Keep taking apart is likely the culprit. Be very careful to seat cup rubber right. If pinched it may just not go back. You can heat with hair dryer and remold the proper shape then.

[Vloshko]

Ani ayef, have it apart now I'll look at the contacts closely, do one last rubbing alcohol clean, and carefully put it pack together. Toda

edit will report back

P.S. Finished some topre molds not long ago, might do 3/4 or more cast then add metallic (or not metallic) alefbet stickers then finish cast in clear or something. Will post results one day.

[typo]

I am tired too Bro! It is 6am here and I did not sleep. Good luck with it though. I hope it works because these are not cheap.
alefbet are stickers or actual keys?

[Polymer]

Why would you take it apart every 2-3 months? 

Chances are you damaged the spring...the rubber dome is purely for feel...the spring and how it conducts electricity as it closes is what activates the key....

This might be the first time I've heard of this type of problem...because most people aren't taking their keyboard apart every 2-3 months....but the only way to really break topre is to mess up the spring..or if the rubber dome degrades so much it won't spring back...

[typo]

I was wondering why he took it apart so often myself. Some things are better left alone. If you bend/stretch those springs .05mm pretty much ruined. That is how precise it is. You are highly unlikely to bend it back right either. I outright abuse mine and never take them apart. Put them in dishwasher. Just dry a week before you use it again. Do not dry in the dishwasher! It will melt.

[tonny950111]

You can get BKE Domes from keyclack.

[Polymer]

Did you find any resolution to this?

The guess is you've damaged the spring....

In which case any other spring from another Topre board should work....

[livewirerc]

I was wondering why he took it apart so often myself. Some things are better left alone. If you bend/stretch those springs .05mm pretty much ruined. That is how precise it is. You are highly unlikely to bend it back right either. I outright abuse mine and never take them apart. Put them in dishwasher. Just dry a week before you use it again. Do not dry in the dishwasher! It will melt.

Woah, you put your Topre boards in the DISHWASHER?!? You are one absolutely mad lad! I'd be deathly afraid of corrosion.