Fixing Worn Buckling Springs

[dzhoou]

When I type on my used Model F 122, I noticed that the alphabetic keys feel way mushier compared to the supposedly less-used function/numeric/numpad keys.

I tried to swap a spring from one of the function keys, but that didn't seem to help a lot as the spring may have been stretched in the swapping process.

Is there anything else I can do to the (existing) springs to let them click better? Helps are very much appreciated.

[andrewjoy]

Take the cap off and wiggle the barrel from site to side. Does it move ? If so its the foam not the springs that are at fault.

[macmakkara]

Also cap needs to be on correct place under cap or it dob't click. I noticed this with my model Fs

[Muirium]

Absolutely. Sometimes a cap will take several attempts to install correctly. If there's no click, you're doing it wrong.

Be glad you've got a Model F. If the foam is wrecked, you can access it easier than all the hassle required for a Model M. The Fs are more modular.

[chzel]

Tipping the keyboard backwards so that the spring falls to the top side of the barrel seems to work fine for me!

[dzhoou]

Thanks. For my case, there are clicks, they are just not the brand new clicks the numpad keys have. I'd assume the springs are halfway through their lifetime or something.

Here's something else I tried, to hold the spring onto a stick and compress it while twisting the coils in the same direction the coil is in. I did get a better clicky spring by doing so, but it is still nowhere to be compared to numpad keys.

[andrewjoy]

I still think it may be the foam , the numbered is closer to the end where the metal catches are so it will be tighter but the middle will be lose if the foam is degraded . Did you give the barrel a wiggle?

[dzhoou]

I did. The barrels aren't moving at all :)

[andrewjoy]

that is very strange indeed.

Are you ok opening a model F ? I could send you 1 or 2 springs as a test.

[dzhoou]

I've never opened one before, I just followed Ripster's guide and used a kebab stick to remove the springs.

However, the springs that hasn't been off take a lot of force to come off and I'm afraid to stretch them too much. The ones that have came off before require less force to take off, but I can't get them to click like new.

[andrewjoy]

If you have problems reinserting them try to get a very small screwdriver you don't mind breaking that is slightly smaller diameter than the spring. Cut it down so it is shorter than the spring by about 2 -3 mm Get a strong magnet and attach it to the screwdriver, that works better for the spring i find, just don't press too hard or you will break the flipper. There is am image of the one i made on the forms somewhere i will try to find it

[andrewjoy]

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8L5U ... 220652.jpg

[fohat]

This looked like an awesomely excellent way to do it, but I have not made one myself:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=63 ... msg1482918

[andrewjoy]

that does look cool but i had to go for what i had close the magnets from the lid of an old white macbook come in very handy