Method of Re-attaching AEK Spacebar

[seaworthy]

Apologies if there is a different/more appropriate place for this post. I searched and couldn't find anything.

So what is the secret to getting an AEK spacebar bar back on? I’ve got the stabilizer clips secured in the plate and I’ve also got the left stem / stabilizer post secured in the plate. I just can’t seem to make the maneuver to place the stabilizer wire into the stabilizer sockets on the bottom of the key while simultaneously placing the post in the hole (yes, leaving myself open to all the grade-school jokes).

Is it supposed to be easer if you attach the wire to the key first and then try to place it in the plate mounted stabilizer clips? I’ve tried this but I can’t get an angle where I can see how to attach it to the receiving clips mounted on the plate.

I found an interesting illustration here, but it doesn’t cover the intricacies of the left side stabilizer post under an AEK spacebar.

http://www.qpad.com/uploads/manuals/cha ... on-UK3.pdf

[Mattr567]

Its real easy. Put the spacebar on with the post, leaving the wire hanging near the clips. Then secure the wire on the clips with a little tool to push them into the clip. Dont try to put it on at the same time.

This requires neighboring keys off and the top cover off.

[seaworthy]

Its real easy. Put the spacebar on with the post, leaving the wire hanging near the clips. Then secure the wire on the clips with a little tool to push them into the clip. Dont try to put it on at the same time.

This requires neighboring keys off and the top cover off.

Thanks for your advice. I've got one problem to resolve first--I keep having the stabilizer clips popping up from the plate. So I'm going to glue those in and see if the process gets easier tomorrow. It certainly hasn't been "easy" to me but I'm a klutz with fiddly stuff. Thanks again for your help!

[flabbergast]

Well I do it by putting the wire into the plate inserts first, then latching the keycap wire inserts into the wire, then manoeuvring the spacebar cap over the top of the switch and then pressing down to fix the cap into the switch. Getting the cap on top of the switch without losing the wire setup is a bit fiddly, but possible.

[seaworthy]

Well I do it by putting the wire into the plate inserts first, then latching the keycap wire inserts into the wire, then manoeuvring the spacebar cap over the top of the switch and then pressing down to fix the cap into the switch. Getting the cap on top of the switch without losing the wire setup is a bit fiddly, but possible.

@flabbergast Thanks for the ideas. I think I'm going to give this route a go and even take the case off. This will get the chin of the top case out of the way so I can work from the bottom front of the board without being obstructed. Fingers crossed.

[seaworthy]

While I don't like the idea of using glue on a keyboard, gluing the stabilizer clips to the plate was the ticket for me being able to put the spacebar back on, and I didn't even have to remove the case for the better attachment angle. Thanks for the help.

[jacobolus]

Is it an AEK or an AEK II. If I remember correctly they have the stabilizer wire facing opposite directions.

Anyway, the easiest way is to first disassemble the plastic case and take off the keycaps from the whole bottom letter row and the command keys. Once you have easy access from the sides, putting the spacebar back on is easy. Shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.

If anyone else is trying to follow along: Definitely don’t glue anything.

[seaworthy]

Is it an AEK or an AEK II. If I remember correctly they have the stabilizer wire facing opposite directions.

Anyway, the easiest way is to first disassemble the plastic case and take off the keycaps from the whole bottom letter row and the command keys. Once you have easy access from the sides, putting the spacebar back on is easy. Shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.

If anyone else is trying to follow along: Definitely don’t glue anything.

@jacobolus Thanks for the tips. The specific board I was working on when I started the thread was an AEK II. It is a lot easier to address all aspects of the stabilizers with the case off--especially on an M0116 which is a little more crowded but easier for case removal.

I've got a couple that I'm cleaning up, and at the moment the M0116 has the cover off to serve for this picture, just to confirm the item that I glued to the plate.

http://imgur.com/whmGKfi

When I removed the spacebar originally the stabilizer clips popped out the the plate. While I was able to easily secure them back on the plate, I think the process of removing them (and the fact they're 25 years old) may have fatigued the snugness of the fitting as they easily popped out each time I tried to rescue the spacebar.

It's not ideal, but what's the specific harm in gluing it in (beyond esthetics)?

[jacobolus]

It probably does no harm to glue those down, if you’re careful not to get glue into the part that holds the wire, but in general I wouldn’t recommend removing the clips in the first place, or if you need to remove them, to be careful about it and not put them in and out too often or too aggressively. (If you’re stripping a whole board down they’re actually much easier to remove by pushing them from the back, but only after desoldering the whole keyboard and pulling the PCB off.)

Or rather: I recommend removing the spacebar from such a keyboard carefully, after removing all of the neighboring keycaps first and possibly also the plastic case. There shouldn’t really be much if any pressure placed on the stabilizer wire when you pull the spacebar out, certainly not enough to pull typical stabilizer clips out of the plate.

[seaworthy]

Good points...I think I'll always try to remove the case in the future (prior to spacebar) where possible to have more options and angles for carefully removing the spacebar.

[fohat]

I do all these operations with a small flat-head screwdriver. Fortunately, I have a spoonful of spare clips from keyboards that I have sacrificed. You have to get the technique right for removing and replacing them so that you don't stress them (closing the "C" too hard and cracking or fatiguing it so that it does not pop back firmly enough to keep itself in place) and I get in very close and use both hands. Once in place, I jiggle it a bit so that I know that it is seated well.

My vote for the wire also goes to installing the space bar first, then pushing the wire down into the clips with the small screwdriver.

[seaworthy]

Thanks for sharing the technique fohat.