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Living Room / How to fix a keyboard with catchy keys
« on: June 03, 2022, 09:53 AM »
How do you fix a keyboard where the keys catch?
Please don't advise me to clean my keyboard or buy another one. I want to fix *this* particular keyboard because I like the look and feel of it.
Okay, so, I'm not talking about a keyboard that needs cleaned. I'm talking about keys, where, when you push on the corners of them they get caught on the way down. It's an engineering error, but I want to fix this instead of getting another keyboard.
I have a Microsoft Natural Multimedia Keyboard 1.0A (has a PS2 connector!)
When I type, if I don't push directly in the center of the key then it catches or jams against itself riser underneath the key cap. This happens especially on the larger keys like the shift and return keys, and mostly with keys hit by my pinky fingers. In fact, on my right shift key, if I try and push it with any finger but I don't hit it in the center, it gets stuck and I have to push it really hard.
Now, when I remove the key cap, I see there is the keycap shaft, the metal stabilizer wire, and then there is a thin vertical piece with a straight slot in it - (you can see it in this picture, but mine is totally clean). This vertical piece has a slot to receive a flange in the bottom of the keycap so as to keep the key straight when it is depressed.
I've tried putting some mineral oil and then some salve on the keycap shaft to make it slide better, but that didn't help. I can still push on the corner of the key and if I push it right, it just won't go down.
I think it is this flange that is where the key gets stuck, but I'm not completely sure.
I am posting here to query whether anyone has experience fixing this. I'd have to fix at least a half dozen keys.
Please don't advise me to clean my keyboard or buy another one. I want to fix *this* particular keyboard because I like the look and feel of it.
Okay, so, I'm not talking about a keyboard that needs cleaned. I'm talking about keys, where, when you push on the corners of them they get caught on the way down. It's an engineering error, but I want to fix this instead of getting another keyboard.
I have a Microsoft Natural Multimedia Keyboard 1.0A (has a PS2 connector!)
When I type, if I don't push directly in the center of the key then it catches or jams against itself riser underneath the key cap. This happens especially on the larger keys like the shift and return keys, and mostly with keys hit by my pinky fingers. In fact, on my right shift key, if I try and push it with any finger but I don't hit it in the center, it gets stuck and I have to push it really hard.
Now, when I remove the key cap, I see there is the keycap shaft, the metal stabilizer wire, and then there is a thin vertical piece with a straight slot in it - (you can see it in this picture, but mine is totally clean). This vertical piece has a slot to receive a flange in the bottom of the keycap so as to keep the key straight when it is depressed.
I've tried putting some mineral oil and then some salve on the keycap shaft to make it slide better, but that didn't help. I can still push on the corner of the key and if I push it right, it just won't go down.
I think it is this flange that is where the key gets stuck, but I'm not completely sure.
I am posting here to query whether anyone has experience fixing this. I'd have to fix at least a half dozen keys.