Reattaching space bar on 1983 IBM 4584656

[ToastyOhs]

This is an IBM Personal Computer keyboard in great shape that I salvaged from the e-waste shed at my local transfer station.

I cleaned it up but don't see how to reattach the spacebar properly so that the metal stabilizer goes back into the little clips on the spacebar. Do I need to take off the metal plate and expose all the paddle switches in order to do it?

Also, it has a feature that I haven't seen before, little plastic squarish rings that go over some of the keycaps, like tab, shift, and enter. Is this an aftermarket thing or did they come this way? They seem to have been attached with rubber cement, but that has long since degraded.

Much thanks!

[SneakyRobb]

Hi,

Halfway down this post it shows how to properly set the space bar. I am not suggesting you do the mod, just that the guide will help getting the spacebar set correctly

viewtopic.php?t=6982

You basically yes have to disassemble it and then use floss or fishing line to pull the spacebar paddle up.

[Wazrach]

It's not that hard or scary disassembling the keyboard. You should be able to use hand pressure to reassemble, as well.

Don't worry about putting floss or fishing wire around the flipper, just use a knife or something that can hold the flipper in its track while you press the backplate to the front plate.

Before you put the plates back together, you could always grease the stabiliser to improve the sound a bit.