Comments on: Fix loud or stiff space-bar Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/2009/12/27/fix-loud-or-stiff-space-bar-microsoft-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/ Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:51:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Mike http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/2009/12/27/fix-loud-or-stiff-space-bar-microsoft-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/comment-page-1/#comment-274 Mike Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:09:31 +0000 http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/?p=135#comment-274 Mine too was very stiff and load. Out of desperation I popped the spacebar off. Do it gently, applying pressure first to one side, then the other, and finally lift it up from front center using a butter knife, paperclip, or some such. I did three things, first, made sure the silver metal sway bar sits in the metal slots at the front and is fully clipped into the plastic retaining tabs on the bottom of the bar, second, I pressed in the sides of the center plastic actuator tube at the bottom (these are left/right as it sits in the keyboard). There are raised fins on the top/bottom of this tube, and I considered shaving them down, but when I replaced the pad after pushing in the tiny tabs at bottom it works MUCH better. Then, finally, I used a pencil to ‘write’ all along the metal fins at front where the thin metal sway bar makes contact (i.e. getting some graphite along those tracks). Now the spacebar works very smooth, as good as all the rest of the keys. Try this, hope it works for you! Mine too was very stiff and load. Out of desperation I popped the spacebar off. Do it gently, applying pressure first to one side, then the other, and finally lift it up from front center using a butter knife, paperclip, or some such. I did three things, first, made sure the silver metal sway bar sits in the metal slots at the front and is fully clipped into the plastic retaining tabs on the bottom of the bar, second, I pressed in the sides of the center plastic actuator tube at the bottom (these are left/right as it sits in the keyboard). There are raised fins on the top/bottom of this tube, and I considered shaving them down, but when I replaced the pad after pushing in the tiny tabs at bottom it works MUCH better. Then, finally, I used a pencil to ‘write’ all along the metal fins at front where the thin metal sway bar makes contact (i.e. getting some graphite along those tracks). Now the spacebar works very smooth, as good as all the rest of the keys. Try this, hope it works for you!

]]> By: Tim http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/2009/12/27/fix-loud-or-stiff-space-bar-microsoft-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/comment-page-1/#comment-270 Tim Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:57:48 +0000 http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/?p=135#comment-270 Great info but the foam didn't fix mine. It turns out the clicking noise in my space-bar was due to the wire-form rattling. That's the metal piece attached to the backside of the space-bar. To fix it, I added some thick grease to the wire-form from where it attaches to the space-bar all the way out to the tips. White lithium grease works and you only need a small amount to eliminate the rattle. Great info but the foam didn’t fix mine. It turns out the clicking noise in my space-bar was due to the wire-form rattling. That’s the metal piece attached to the backside of the space-bar. To fix it, I added some thick grease to the wire-form from where it attaches to the space-bar all the way out to the tips.

White lithium grease works and you only need a small amount to eliminate the rattle.

]]> By: Ronald http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/2009/12/27/fix-loud-or-stiff-space-bar-microsoft-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/comment-page-1/#comment-266 Ronald Wed, 26 Jan 2011 08:33:21 +0000 http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/?p=135#comment-266 a match stick with a little paper around it to keep it in place worked even better for me. Also if you have a small small nail polisher to adjust its size till its perfect. a match stick with a little paper around it to keep it in place worked even better for me.

Also if you have a small small nail polisher to adjust its size till its perfect.

]]> By: Ronald http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/2009/12/27/fix-loud-or-stiff-space-bar-microsoft-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/comment-page-1/#comment-265 Ronald Wed, 26 Jan 2011 08:03:05 +0000 http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/?p=135#comment-265 the post it works like a charm. Be careful when removing the space since mine cracked halfway. if i remove it i put a small screwdriver on left or right and then put my whole finger underneath and push from under in the middle to prevent breaking. The only downside for me is that when i hot space bar in the middle part it wont go down but it does give me a space. the post it works like a charm. Be careful when removing the space since mine cracked halfway. if i remove it i put a small screwdriver on left or right and then put my whole finger underneath and push from under in the middle to prevent breaking.

The only downside for me is that when i hot space bar in the middle part it wont go down but it does give me a space.

]]> By: Edu http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/2009/12/27/fix-loud-or-stiff-space-bar-microsoft-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/comment-page-1/#comment-256 Edu Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:43:29 +0000 http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/?p=135#comment-256 Rob: Thank you very much for your tip... I also tried 20 different things to try to fix the sticky space... and only with this simple "extension" I manage to get a working solution :D Rob: Thank you very much for your tip… I also tried 20 different things to try to fix the sticky space… and only with this simple “extension” I manage to get a working solution :D

]]> By: Maggie http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/2009/12/27/fix-loud-or-stiff-space-bar-microsoft-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/comment-page-1/#comment-253 Maggie Fri, 24 Dec 2010 17:00:48 +0000 http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/?p=135#comment-253 Thanks it worked Thanks it worked

]]> By: Rob http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/2009/12/27/fix-loud-or-stiff-space-bar-microsoft-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/comment-page-1/#comment-249 Rob Fri, 17 Dec 2010 07:19:56 +0000 http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/?p=135#comment-249 Just a tip for the sticky keyboard. The issue is a design problem. There is 1 post in the middle of the spacebar that contacts the pad underneath. Unless you hit it right in the middle, it seems like it sticks. The "stick" is the post binding in its slot. After trying about 20 things w/ no luck - I tried to extend the post by about 1/8". I took a little post-it-note rolled it up tight and stuck it in the hole of the post on the bottom of the keyboard, then cut it so about 1/8" was sticking out. Put things back together and presto - I can not hit the keyboard anywhere and I get the space. Works great! Just a tip for the sticky keyboard. The issue is a design problem. There is 1 post in the middle of the spacebar that contacts the pad underneath. Unless you hit it right in the middle, it seems like it sticks. The “stick” is the post binding in its slot. After trying about 20 things w/ no luck – I tried to extend the post by about 1/8″. I took a little post-it-note rolled it up tight and stuck it in the hole of the post on the bottom of the keyboard, then cut it so about 1/8″ was sticking out. Put things back together and presto – I can not hit the keyboard anywhere and I get the space. Works great!

]]> By: Joe Fafalone http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/2009/12/27/fix-loud-or-stiff-space-bar-microsoft-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Joe Fafalone Wed, 17 Nov 2010 05:36:35 +0000 http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/?p=135#comment-244 Excellent fix! Thanks so much for posting this - it not only works for a noisy spacer bar, but was also able to fix the 'i' button that would frequently not register when I pushed it in the upper left hand corner (which was far too often!). By removing the 'i' key and adding a dab of foam double-sided tape - only removing the protective strip from one side of the tape so it would stick to the bottom of the plastic stem in the problem area, the key now registers perfectly all the time. Excellent fix! Thanks so much for posting this – it not only works for a noisy spacer bar, but was also able to fix the ‘i’ button that would frequently not register when I pushed it in the upper left hand corner (which was far too often!). By removing the ‘i’ key and adding a dab of foam double-sided tape – only removing the protective strip from one side of the tape so it would stick to the bottom of the plastic stem in the problem area, the key now registers perfectly all the time.

]]> By: Cindy D http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/2009/12/27/fix-loud-or-stiff-space-bar-microsoft-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/comment-page-1/#comment-243 Cindy D Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:32:41 +0000 http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/?p=135#comment-243 Thank you so much for posting this. Although with froam squeesy stuff didn't wok for me I happen to use enbriodery and sewin machine a lot and and constantly " unsticking" needkes and such,I was lucky enoght to have a can if Sullianas fir Sewing Silicone Spray at my finger tips. it's a dry silicone...i spriayed everyhing under and in the part i took off of the keyboard and with every press if te pace bar it get's easier. Thank you so muchf fort telline me how to get if off....I would hae never guessed. Thank again! Cindy D Thank you so much for posting this. Although with froam squeesy stuff didn’t wok for me I happen to use enbriodery and sewin machine a lot and and constantly ” unsticking” needkes and such,I was lucky enoght to have a can if Sullianas fir Sewing Silicone Spray at my finger tips. it’s a dry silicone…i spriayed everyhing under and in the part i took off of the keyboard and with every press if te pace bar it get’s easier. Thank you so muchf fort telline me how to get if off….I would hae never guessed. Thank again!

Cindy D

]]> By: pacchang http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/2009/12/27/fix-loud-or-stiff-space-bar-microsoft-ergonomic-keyboard-4000/comment-page-1/#comment-240 pacchang Mon, 08 Nov 2010 20:55:19 +0000 http://www.emtek.net.nz/blog/?p=135#comment-240 This is really a fantastic fix for a great keyboard. Thank you! This is really a fantastic fix for a great keyboard. Thank you!

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