deskthority

Hello Deskthority! Long time reader (admirer), first time writer here. I need some help from this awesome community!
Recently I’ve gotten lucky and acquired myself a used but in fairly good condition Chicony kb-5181 keyboard.

Here is my beauty!



Upon cleaning it, I’ve discovered that the stabilizers from under the enter key (Big-ass-enter) were missing.

This is underneath the key and where the stabilizers should be.


Without them the key still functions, however I need to press relatively close to switch for it to go down. If i try to press on the top of the key it doesn't budge.

I’ve looked several times online for pictures of stabilizers under the enter key but came up with nothing. I also have a few spares but were unsuccessful with attaching them.

These are my spare stabilizers and mounts for them.


I did try inserting the stabilizers that I have, but they don't seem to work. The key doesnt want to go down when I try to do both (one large, one small). If i only do one large stabilizer, the key becomes sticky and doesn't come up after I press it. So this makes me wonder if the ones under the enter key are some sort of specially shaped ones. Like I've mentioned before, I tried to look online for a pic of how they're supposed to look, but didnt find anything. Maybe it's because this keyboard is not that common.
The missing stabilizers are by no means a deal breaker for me (I just love this keyboard!), but I’d like for everything to work on this keyboard.
Any advice, pictures or comments greatly appreciated!

I have a different keyboard with the same stabilizer system and Enter key

Just removed the Enter key to have a look, and obviously the way to properly re-install it is the following:
- put the wires in place (with the bent piece showing upwards): - install the white plastic inserts on the wire so that their longer part shows to the switch when they are in their final position (i.e. resting in the stab base with their switch mount showing upwards)
- push the Enter key in place, done.

I hope it will also work for you

It's a nice keyboard, congrats! I considered bidding on it but was put off by seller's description stating that the Esc key doesn't work.

Hello, thank you for your answers.

kbdfr - Can you please take a picture of your stabilizers underneath the enter key? It would really help me out.
As you can see from one of my pics (last one), I have the correct short stabilizer (the one you drew in your reply), but I'm having difficulties with the bigger one. When I insert it, the key becomes stuck for some reason when pressed.

volhodav wrote: Hello, thank you for your answers.

kbdfr - Can you please take a picture of your stabilizers underneath the enter key? It would really help me out.
As you can see from one of my pics (last one), I have the correct short stabilizer (the one you drew in your reply), but I'm having difficulties with the bigger one. When I insert it, the key becomes stuck for some reason when pressed.

It means that the stabilizer probably is the wrong shape.

stratokaster wrote: It means that the stabilizer probably is the wrong shape.

Yep, that's what I figured. So I tried to look up how it's supposed to be shaped and wasn't able to find any images.
So if you can, can you share some pics with me? So that I can see the correct shape.

I'm not very good at drawing, but I'm an even worse photographer
The wires on my keyboard seem to be thinner than yours, but to have the same shape.
Perhaps I did not make clear enough what I meant when writing "put the wires in place (with the bent piece showing upwards)".
The "bent piece" was supposed to mean the raised middle part, which has to show to the cap and not to the board.

The direction in which the small white plastic inserts show also plays a role.
Their longer part must be directed at the switch.

Pic corrected:

kbdfr wrote: Pic corrected:

Stabs C.png

Thank you for your replies and the provided help. I only wish that you'd attach actual photos of your keyboard instead of drawings. However, beggars can't be choosers - I guess. Thank you, I'll try to shape my own and will keep on tinkering until I get it solved.

Deskthority RULEZ!

volhodav wrote: […] I only wish that you'd attach actual photos of your keyboard instead of drawings. However, beggars can't be choosers - I guess. […]

Actually, on DT sometimes they can:
(remember: lousy photographer )