Space bar stab clip broken off Model M barrel plate

[modelf]

So... the hook thing (clip?) slash small-piece-of-plastic that holds one side of the space bar stabilizing wire on my Model M broke off. No idea how it happened. Worse, it went flying across the room and I can't find it. Now the space bar only works if I press it in the middle. How can I fix this?

I can't figure out how this board's bbcode to display smaller images works, so here is a full-size photo of the part that's broken.

Thank you for your help!

[dcopellino]

Hi modelf, what a shame that broken stabilizer. A quick solution, which don't involve the tearing apart of the whole assembly keyboard and the consequently stabilizer replacement, might be that suggested by me in this old post that call in a metallic washer.

[fohat]

I have used washers several times myself. As I recall, it is a 5/16" SAE washer, not an easy one to find.

[modelf]

Hello dcopellino and fohat, I followed the link and also, separately, Googled "space bar washer repair mod Model M keyboard" and the like. Am coming up with nothing. Could you please refer me to a resource that explains how the mod works? Thank you!

[fohat]

a resource that explains how the mod works?

Gravity.
The weight of the washer prevents the wire from jumping up. You may hear a bit of rattle and the "V" or "M" key or whichever will lose a tiny bit of downward travel.

Otherwise a new barrel plate from Unicomp used to cost $10, maybe more now.

[modelf]

Thank you for getting back to me. I actually do have some washers around with that exact size. However, in a box, I found an unharmed barrel plate from some kind of 1980s terminal Model M. After some drilling and cleaning, it's now sitting in the keyboard in question.

It's nice to know about the "washer mod" now... so many years of using these keyboards, never heard of it before.

[AndyJ]

Unicomp has the button plates - they call them "frames" - in original 101-key and later 103 or 105 key versions.

They were $24.95 not long ago. They're $29 plus shipping just now. I have a spare M with the frame split into three pieces; I guess I should have bought a replacement earlier.

Some people have had luck bending pieces of sheet metal to make new clips, and using superglue or epoxy to hold them in place. Apparently IBM used more than one type of plastic, and at least one is "soapy" (polypropylene?) and glue doesn't stick to it very well. But it's cheap enough to try.

[fohat]

It's nice to know about the "washer mod" .... so many years of using these keyboards, never heard of it before.

I think it was the great wcass who dreamed it up about a decade ago.

[modelf]

Unicomp has the button plates - they call them "frames" - in original 101-key

Those Unicomp "frames" require some modding with a Dremel or similar tool to cut off the drainage channels at the bottom? I have a Dremel and some skill, but I've never had the courage to take it to one of those barrel plates.

After a few orders from Unicomp where they sent the wrong part out to me (they've been good about returns), I've mostly dealt with local (Dallas) Model M collectors/modders. Have had good luck finding parts through them. Occasionally, I'll buy super cheap RJ45-type Model Ms on eBay when they show up... especially the '87-'88 units... because the caps, keystems, springs, rubber blankets, membranes, etc., etc., can be repurposed for all kinds of projects and bolt/screw modding (especially for 1986-'91 PC-compatible Model Ms).

On eBay once, I found an entire working keyboard (1988 Model M RJ45) for $20+shipping. And the lots are even better... I found one auction through an e-Recycler for 5 boards in various conditions... the mass of which is sitting in several boxes in my garage.