Better keyboard fix (IMHO)

[darrenf]

I see many people here applying shims under the right side of the keyboard to fix the spring in factory T40-series laptops. Looking at the problem, this did not appear to me to fix the real cause so I took a different tack and my keyboard could not be any more solid.

Look at an unmodified keyboard and you will notice that the metal trim around the keyboard does not "catch" under the plastic palmest at the point below the arrow keys like it does everywhere else. A little tab is formed into the metal trim right below the down-arrow key that is *supposed* to catch, but either the palmrest or keyboard are not quite right and the tab doesn't catch.

[Note: the following may be hard to follow unless your keyboard is out and you are looking at that tab very closely.]

My fix was to reshape that tab so that it reaches an extra mm or so. With the keyboard out, I lifted the down-arrow key (to move it out of the way), then took some needle-nosed plyers and bent the tab, flattening it so that it starts about 1mm closer to the down-arrow key and has a shallower slope. Then I reinstalled the keyboard (making sure the tab catches under the palmrest).

The result is a perfect keyboard that works as IBM probably intended it to.

-darren

[nesen]

thanks for this hint darren

i just did the keyboard fix, as i had to do it anyways (with foam or "the real way")

and i have to say, great, the flex is all gone

well, i hurt the keyboard a little, it isn't all black anymore, and the right arrow key does make another sound as the others (you don't really notice it, but if you really listen carefully, you can hear it)

but i'm sure this fix can be done without my mistakes.

i did set up a few pictures, also some from the "flexing tab", though not very interesting, at http://ice.g3th.net/t41p/

have a nice day

[darrenf]

-nesen,

Thanks for having the courage to try the fix!

You can cover up the exposed aluminum scratches with ink from a fine-point Sharpie marker or CD-labeling marker. If you're sloppy like me, you'll need to wipe off the edge of the down-arrow key when you're done to get any ink off the key before it dries.

I'm sorry to hear about the right arrow key. I wonder if popping off the keycap would expose the cause of the problem (BTW: I'm only *assuming* that keycaps pop off easily like in other laptops - I haven't done that on a ThinkPad yet, so use caution).

Thanks for posting the pics too. What nationality is that keyboard?

-darren

[Hangfire]

Thanks to both of you for your courage and willingness to share.

Is this problem associated with all "T" keyboards or just the T41p?

Which countries are the keyboards made in?

Thanks!

[JHEM]

Thanks for posting the pics too. What nationality is that keyboard?

Deutsch, but the important question is, who's Imogen Bailey!?

Regards,

James the DOM

[G-Man]

http://www.imogenbailey.com/

Have fun!

Regards,
G-Man

[Hangfire]

Geez!

[nesen]

LOL

btw, the right arrow key doesn't bother me at all, the sound it makes is just a tiny little bit of higher frequency than the other keys, it's nothing anyone would even notice, and i still don't know if it wasn't that way before (because i really didn't do anything on the right side and also didn't pop the keys off)


the scratches are just there because i couldn't find a black marker, will be fixed at monday or so

[JaimitoBond]

thanks for this hint darren

i just did the keyboard fix, as i had to do it anyways (with foam or "the real way")

and i have to say, great, the flex is all gone

well, i hurt the keyboard a little, it isn't all black anymore, and the right arrow key does make another sound as the others (you don't really notice it, but if you really listen carefully, you can hear it)

but i'm sure this fix can be done without my mistakes.

i did set up a few pictures, also some from the "flexing tab", though not very interesting, at http://ice.g3th.net/t41p/

have a nice day

On this pic of yours, you can see that padding strip on the right, on top of you optical drive. It is not placed correctly I think. That strip should be more to the left, and run vertically, from the arrow keys up to the backspace button. Perhpas thats why some keyboards have more flex than others. If you keyboard still flexes, I would just add a 2-3mm more of double sided tape, right on top of the one from the factory.

http://ice.g3th.net/t41p/DSCN0954.JPG

[nesen]

i actually don't think that this strip is the problem, because the flex was worst at the position of the strip, i might be wrong though.

i have no idea what this strip should be good for, but i also think the problem of the keyboard is that it's not pressed down strong enough. without the fix, the problem was solved by pressing the right palmrest down, without adding any foam at all...

anyway, the only thing that's important is that the flex goes away. if you're afraid to ruin the keyboard with this fix you might be better off with the foam fix.

[G-Man]

Actually I ordered a replacement keyboard for my T40, and its right side was bended, so I used a little force (on the metal part) and straighted out, and then installed it. Now it looks perfect.

Hope it helps.

Regards,
G-Man

[JaimitoBond]

i actually don't think that this strip is the problem, because the flex was worst at the position of the strip, i might be wrong though.

i have no idea what this strip should be good for, but i also think the problem of the keyboard is that it's not pressed down strong enough. without the fix, the problem was solved by pressing the right palmrest down, without adding any foam at all...

anyway, the only thing that's important is that the flex goes away. if you're afraid to ruin the keyboard with this fix you might be better off with the foam fix.

I've mentioned this in another post, that the reason the right side is not as stiff is because the 4 screws that hold the KB in the 14" T series is located at the centre and the left of the KB. The right side doesn't have any hardware that mounts it tightly to the chassis. It is obvious that the strip on top of the optical drive was meant for that purpose--to support the right side of the KB. I think the location of yours (on that picture), is wrong or not optimal. Compare your pic to this pic, the fourth one from the bottom of the page:
http://www.ibmuser.idv.tw/articles/t40test-4.htm

Try moving it more to the left, so that no part of it is on top of any groove. That strip on my T41p is also located more to the left than yours, and I don't notice much flex, unless I depress the arrow keys hard or just holding it down. Interestingly, if you keep the CD drive in, you can't really notice it. It becomes more obvious when you remove the drive, and replace it with the travel bezel. I thickened that strip by adding a few layers of thin double sided tape, and now you can't tell the difference between left and right of the KB. It is perfect now, even after I removed the optical drive.

As for other people, perhaps they do have a defective KB that is not completely flat or something. In that case, I don't think the tape fix will help.