How to I fix keys that get stuck? atari 800

[Crab Soul]

My B key and my option key get stuck.

 

anytime I press B it gets stuck and spells out 1000 Bs.

 

Ive taken it apart and cleaned it per the service manual, but I cant find why the keys get stuck.

[Wally1]

try WD-40

[fujidude]

Silicone lubricant is much more chemically inert, especially around plastics.

[gilsaluki]

Where does one find Silicone lubricant? No seriously, I have no idea.

[Bryan]

The old Stackpole and HiTek keyboards use square-tube plungers that tend to crack at the corners under the stress of having a press-fit keycap shoved in them. When they crack, they don't hold the keycaps very well and they can expand enough to bind.

[+Stephen]

Be VERY careful when using silicone if in a spray form. The silicone is inert, but the propellant may or may not melt plastic.

[+DrVenkman]

Where does one find Silicone lubricant? No seriously, I have no idea.

 

Any home improvement store - in the U.S., we're talking Lowes, Home Depot, etc. In fact, most larger general retail stores like Walmart will have it in their homewares section.

[Kyle22]

Also Auto Parts stores for silicone spray.

 

But, as Bryan said, check the plungers. If they are cracked, call Best Electronics for replacements (ALL OF THEM). If one is cracked/bad, then the rest can't be far behind.

 

Make SURE you know exactly what style keyboard you have, either yellow or white plungers BEFORE you call Brad. He is a great guy, I have met him personally, but he is very busy, and doesn't like to waste a lot of time on the phone.

 

(408) 278-1070 1:30PM to 5:00 PM Pacific Standard Time (Greenwich Mean Time - 8 Hours) Monday-Friday (no weekend).

Edited May 11, 2015 by Kyle22

[COBRAIP]

That is not what you want..... You want "Electronic Switch and Contact Cleaner" This cleans and leaves no residue after drying. should fix any stiky key and is available in most stores.

[fujidude]

Contact cleaner is for cleaning corrosion off of metal contacts. Lubricant is for reducing sliding friction. I thought the issue was excess friction here, not corrosion. If the sticking is actually due to contact corrosion... by all means yes: use the contact cleaner!

 

I have used CRC brand "Electronic Cleaner". It comes in an aerosol can. I buy it at auto parts stores for a few bucks. I have used it on countless motherboards, circuit boards, etc.without any problems. It dries with no residue. But, be sure it has dried (I should say eveaporated, as dried leaves the impression some is left behind, which there isn't) before energizing! The stuff is flamable. It also stinks and likely is not a healthy thing to breath too much of, so use common sense.

Edited May 11, 2015 by fujidude

[Crab Soul]

The old Stackpole and HiTek keyboards use square-tube plungers that tend to crack at the corners under the stress of having a press-fit keycap shoved in them. When they crack, they don't hold the keycaps very well and they can expand enough to bind.

Is it a plunger and not a spring?

 

They are square under the keys. and youre right about the cracking

[Bryan]

Is it a plunger and not a spring?

 

They are square under the keys. and youre right about the cracking

The plastic plunger is pretty much just a square tube with a bar across the middle to separate the contacts and little barb tabs at the bottom to keep it from coming out unless you really pull on it. Under it is a metal coil spring.