SSK up-down arrow button question

[mustcode]

Hi all

I just got a fairly new SSK in the mail today. The ebay seller said it was new-in-box and I believe him since it looks pristine. It came in its original box without the ps/2 cable. I guess it was part of a PC and the cable was in a separate package. So, now while everything looks great, I noticed one small issue... when I press the down arrow key, the edge of the cap of the down key hit the edge of the cap of the up key a little. Is this a common issue? I think I lost 2-3 rivets, so hopefully that isn't issue. Also, if any one got a recommendation on where I can get a good cable for the SSK, please let me know. I can't wait to try this bad boy out on my PC

Cheers! (attached some pics just in case they help)

[fohat]

The arrow cluster tends to be tight sometimes. I have sanded the bottom edge of the cap skirt just a bit and that usually solves it.

[depletedvespene]

You should either get an SDL-PS/2 cable (from either Clicky Keyboards or Unicomp) OR an SDL-USB cable from orihalcon.

SSKs are great keyboards. Enjoy it!

[mustcode]

Got it! Thanks for the help guys

[clickykeyboards]

Without seeing additional photos, this is probably NOT a clear case of broken or missing plastic rivets.

First, try to take off the key cap covers for the up and down keys and swap them with 2 other keys. It would be easy to determine if you just need replacement key caps.

I have seen a few rare cases where the geometry of the key barrel plate gets out of alignment because of the plastic warping.. If the black plastic internal barrel assembly that holds the keys is out of alignment, it would look like 2-keys rubbing against each other. But I only have seen these on a half-dozen model M13 Made by Lexmark keyboards where the case plastic warps and only on a dozen or so 1995-1999 model M keyboards. I can't recall seeing any plastic warping problems on a pre 1991 model M keyboard.

If you need SDL to ps/2 cables, we have a few hundred used model M cables on hand that would work fine with your 84 key SSK 1391472/1392934/1397681 or any other full-size 101-key 1390120/1390131/1391401/1394540.

[mustcode]

Thanks, I haven't try swapping out caps yet. All 1u keys on the Model Ms are the same profile, right? So swapping with any 1u key should be fine?

[depletedvespene]

Yes. It's one of the many fantastic features of the Model M (and F) keyboards.

[mustcode]

So, it turns out it is the keycaps. I swapped the up-down arrows with the left-right and the problem is gone. So, with that confirmed, I inspect the problematic caps and found that the up arrow is the one with a little much plastic around where the cap was touching the down arrow key.
If I run my finger along that edge, I can also feel that the edge is a little sharper than it should be. So, I rub that edge on a sandpaper for 10 seconds and the problem is now gone, thanks all