deskthority

Two of my springs are damaged.

The first one only minor - works almost as if it's not damaged at all

The second one is in pretty bad shape (clicks about half of the time only [must be bottomed out]). It's specifically this one that troubles me as it's the backspace key (interestingly the spring kinda works when I put a single piece key on it...).

What can I do to fix these springs (at least the backspace one...)?

Get some new ones:
http://pckeyboard.com/page/Misc/PVPLASM

Based on the shipping prices that's almost a non-option (I'm from Austria)

you can try to pull lightly at the springs, it helps sometimes.
but what exactly is the issue? are they bent?

They are bent [and twisted] - actually the one of backspace is so badly damaged that it's a bit shorter than the springs normally are (most likely the reason why it has to bottomed out)

Most of the times I'm wondering how the backspace one is even working - I don't even dare to remove the key cap. The last time I removed it it took me about an hour to get the key to click again...

I can send you some springs for the cost of shipping, pm me with details.
do you know how to replace a spring? there were some inctructions on geekhack a while back..

The spring must be completely upright when you insert a key, otherwise it could be damaged. At least, that's how it is on my IBM Model M2.

There is supposed to be a way to replace a spring without having to disassemble the keyboard, but I don't know it. Supposedly, it involves treading the spring on a stick, such as a chopstick.

I have got a few extra springs/hammers that you could have for a Euro (the cost of postage to Austria). Send me a PM with your address, and I'll send them later this week.

I've heard of the chopstick trick, but there seem to be no pictures (or I didn't find them [after Geekhack was hacked...])

Sandy's chopstick method. Worked for me. Insert stick in spring, the width must be so it can be inserted but still provides friction with the spring. I used a large match. Turn counter-clockwise to remove a spring from the hammer, clockwise to insert. Or was it the other way round? I never remember.

That's the one I've heard of too - what always confuses me is, why Sandy doesn't mention this trick on her homepage...

MFH wrote:That's the one I've heard of too - what always confuses me is, why Sandy doesn't mention this trick on her homepage...

her?

Sandy : the hurricane ?

sandy the keyboard nerd (back when keyboards weren't cool )

yeah it was an easy and bad joke, sorry.

And he's not a her. MFH just lacks of Jewish culture, or US TV series culture

He? Oops...

Off-topic, I finally found my Sandy Alps opener. It was hiding in a box. Crafted from an ice cream spoon or something like that.

Ahh that's cool. DT wiki needs a 'Switch opener' page. Are there any official switch openers? I thought I've seen Cherry ones before or it might just be some Korean who's created something that looks like it's an official Cherry one...I can't remember

There's this:
http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/i-di ... t2458.html