USB Model M

[Jules Richardson]

Jules Richardson wrote:
> Sridhar Ayengar wrote:
>> Jules Richardson wrote:
>>  > Re. Model M itself - it's nice to be typing on one; I've suffered a
>>> laptop keyboard for far too long! My only criticism of it is that the 
>>> right-hand shift key seems to require fairly central pressing in 
>>> order to work (i.e. I can't just reach across from the cursor keys 
>>> and tap the end) - does anyone know if they changed this (i.e. added 
>>> a metal travel-assist bar as with the spacebar, keypad enter key 
>>> etc.) on the later models?
>>
>> I know for a fact that they didn't.  Try a mild lubricant.
> 
> Yep, will do. If that doesn't work then I can just get used to it I 
> think, it's not really *that* big a deal.

Well, sewing machine oil's the lightest stuff I had to hand, and that actually 
makes things worse (in that the key likes to not return from the down position 
if oiled). Clock/watch oil might be better if I order some in...

There's no obvious signs of wear on the shift key mechanism (as compared to 
other keys) or on the keyboard itself (i.e. the pillars that support the key) 
or other debris which might be fouling things up.

If I put the Ctrl key where the shift key is then I can press that on the 
right-hand edge and it works fine (although it doesn't extend out to the right 
quite as far as the shift key does). I suspect that it's the 'unsprung' 
support on the left hand side of the shift key that's fouling - pressing the 
shift key makes it rotate slightly and jam up in the left support.

(I'm not yet sure how the little white plastic inserts on the unsprung key 
supports come out, but as a test maybe I can swap one of those in from 
elsewhere and see if things improve)

cheers

Jules