Faulty Model M2

mark201200 · 08 Jun 2018, 20:55

So i recently got myself a model M2, but it has a very strange problem: If i disassemble it and manually touch the membrane, every key works, but as soon as i close the barrel plate, both shift keys stop working. I can't figure out why. I've tried seating the barrel plate multiple times, checking if there's any dirt on the membranes or the plate, but the problem doesn't go away.

Blaise170 · 08 Jun 2018, 20:57

You have to seat the case exactly. It's a very finicky device.

digital_matthew · 08 Jun 2018, 22:00

Blaise170 wrote: You have to seat the case exactly. It's a very finicky device.

Yep, and make sure that the rockers are seated properly. If you remove the Shift keys, do the springs rock back and forth freely when you tilt the case? I know it sounds silly, but make sure the rockers are in the correct holes; the Shift keys have redundant holes for the stabs. Also be sure that the keys are clicking when you reapply them. If they just mush they won't register.

mark201200 · 09 Jun 2018, 00:26

digital_matthew wrote:
Blaise170 wrote: You have to seat the case exactly. It's a very finicky device.
Yep, and make sure that the rockers are seated properly. If you remove the Shift keys, do the springs rock back and forth freely when you tilt the case? I know it sounds silly, but make sure the rockers are in the correct holes; the Shift keys have redundant holes for the stabs. Also be sure that the keys are clicking when you reapply them. If they just mush they won't register.

The rockers are in the correct holes, and the keys click normally. It isn't a problem with the rockers, or keys, it looks like the case is somehow interfering with the membrane(?). If i press the membrane manually with a screwdriver when the case is not fully seated, the key works, until i completely snap the case. At that point, the key just stops registering.

digital_matthew · 09 Jun 2018, 01:16

Yes I had the same problem with the numpad 5 on the last M2 I restored. I used a chopstick and gently pushed against the rocker (the case was fully assembled) until it worked properly. This is also how I got the space bar on my F XT to work too. It's hard to explain, but just keep pushing on it and replacing the key and trying. These are really fussy keyboards.