Watching this inspired me to finally fix a broken old "spares" Model M I have. Ran four wires to the indicator lights, one wire to the membrane, and it works perfectly now! Those flex ribbon cables just seem to have a habit of failing over time.
In love with this channel, it's kinda like druaga and the 8 Bit Guy fused. xD Entertaining and actually informative. Keep the videos coming! PS: MODEL M MASTER RACE BITCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cherry MX red is still amazing, you're not missing too much. I don't know which I prefer, my Cherry MX Blue knockoff keyboard or my Model M, they're both great typing experiences, to me Model M isn't necessarily better, just different.
Hi. That was super entertaining!! I don't know ANYTHING about how to do any of that, but loved how easy you made it look. This is my favorite keyboard as well but I stopped using it for a bit. your video has inspired me to bring it back out. I love the keys and the sound..... ahh! I just feel I can type so much better on this keyboard. Thank you for reminding me how much I love this keyboard!!
There's something satisfying about the clickity-clak of a mechanical keyboard.. Due to lack of desk space, I had to get something smaller, so I got a Nixeus MODA-Pro mechanical keyboard with the "click tactile" keys. It was 60 bucks, but worth it. Not only does it feel great, but like the M, it's built like a tank with a solid aluminum body. And with it's brushed silver body and bright, white keys, it looks gorgeous.
These keyboards... I'm in heaven watching these O_O. I am trying to fix my IBM Model M keyboard. I spilled a bit of ginger ale on my left portion. Very little bit. I've torn down the board and all. I also sprayed electronics parts cleaner on it. I left the board alone and had thought it was drained out but in morning picked it up and to my dismay it had the parts cleaner liquid in there. It dried and cracked the plastic part where keys pop in and hammer springs sit in. I was able to repair that. The rubber mat is a bit affected but washed it off with some hand soap. All the plastic rivet pieces are all off as a result and now need to do screw mod. I will do that tomorrow. I will also use a bit of rubbing alcohol on the mylar printed circuit portion and hope that does not hurt anything. Or maybe I should use a bit of water on micro fiber cloth and clean the plastic portions. I just really hope that I can succeed with this. I call the keyboard I'm trying to fix up Rhonda. I have so many hours on this keyboard for work and gaming. Hoping I will succeed. The one I keep around at work is Mandy hehe. Another parts keyboard on the way and always looking for more. Just don't want to spend a ton of money on them. Hard to find them cheap or whatever. I LOVE these keyboards since I type so often. Using a horrible rubber dome wireless Logitech keyboard. Save me!!!!!!! :-/ Think I am making the right choices on cleaning and such?
@@ronstar7027 I most certainly did! lol. Well I was certainly upset at myself for doing that. Still using it and am typing this reply with that same keyboard. So seems I did a decent job fixing it up again :). Rhonda (I named it lol) lives!
I have a couple that are going to need a bolt mod one of these days. Not in a hurry, I have 12 more and parts two... LOL Cleaning these are a all day treat!. I have all of the flavors of cables. Sad they abandoned the 5 pin dim plugs. it was a better plug... Love the video! Thanks! LLAP
lol, dude. saying a Model M is not mechanical is like saying Bob Marley didn't sing reggae. in its time the Model M was absolutely known as a mechanical keyboard, and if you try to redefine words decades later to include only the Cherry and its knockoffs, and the keyboard included with the PC, XT and the mainframe terminals, you look like a fool.
@@ssl3546 but people distinguish between membranes and mechanical, so the Model M is clearly membrane. It is however not a rubber dome keyboard, like most membrane keyboards.
I have a Unicomp Model M (they are made using the original tooling) and it works great. It's cool to have a new Model M. You can get them in USB too, although mine is PS/2 because my Linux machine has a port for it and I can use it on legacy statement if I so choose in the future.
If you want to bolt mod, you can get a spare membrane from Unicomp (they still make Model Ms with the original tooling, just modernized). They also have an industrial gray case available IIRC
Hello, first of all I want to thank you for the information of your video, I have my model m and every time I press the f key, it is displayed correctly (it does not lock when going down and up), however the screen repeats the f indefinitely. What would be the correct procedure to follow to fix this damage, greetings from Peru.
Any model M is a good candidate for bolt modding. Go ahead and do it and you don't have to worry about anything for the rest of the life of your keyboard.
I know this is gonna sound dumb, but how in the world do you remove the ribbon cables? None of my LEDs work and I've been trying to tinker with it, but I really don't wanna make anything worse.
I have model M keyboard, but the letter "q" on the key board is not working, how do fix it? thanks, I've tried to cleaned it out so many times, sitll not working.
Did the flex cable just break with age because I was under the impression that it normally takes the cable being subjected to a forceful and sudden change in position to cause a flex cable to fail. However that cable stayed inside the keyboard so it could not have moved a significant amount. Great video as usual!
Maybe someone was in the keyboard before and pinched the cable when putting the connector in. Maybe it's liquid damage, i forget which one had orange juice residue in it. Obviously fruit is acidic, promotes metal oxidation. Sometimes friction can be a factor, my old Mitsumi seems to have failed due to that. There is minute little movement in the flex membrane from the keyboard being operated, so friction against another part occurs.
One of my 1391401 M's left shift key occasionally sticks down. I've cleaned the alignment post and hole with rubbing alcohol; no happy. A light coat of sewing machine oil on the post; no happy. So far, swapping left shift keys between two functional M's worked. Any idea what might be the issue, other than a weak'ish buckling spring?
i find just replacing the whole cable, using a 4 pin fan header and connector, so you can break the circuit, and then using some old ide cable, the best fix
I wonder if the series resistance of the ribbon cable has any functionality in the electrical design. If so, then replacing it with a wire is not a good idea.
I have one of these (1991 version). The green lights come on/off when connected via USB to the computer, but when I press the keys, nothing types on the screen. Any idea what could be wrong? Thank you.
Bought a set of keycaps from unicomp and they completely changed the key-feel. Didn't feel like the same keyboard with them on, threw them in the trash and went back to my regular ones. But now there's no springiness on the keys that were fitted with the unicomp caps. Will changing the springs solve the issue or do i have to disassemble the entire board?.
Its NOT a mechanical keyboard. The actuator itself is a membrane. it has a mechanical component but its not part of the actual actuator. Why does that matter? because you repair it as if it was a membrane, ie scrape the contact areas, check for damage etc... Where as a mechanical switch like mx youd have to replace completely and solder on a new piece. Source: IBMs patent application
Your trace was probably corroded by a spilled drink. I'm surprised you didn't consider running a conductive-ink pen along the trace; that might well have fixed it.
You can't. You will have to be prepared to do the bolt mod, since opening the keyboard to get at the spring flippers requires breaking off all the plastic rivets.
Indeed, it's very close. But it's difficult to get something from the US to Costa Rica due to complicated customs procedures and shipping costs, not to mention that I'd have to get the QWERTZ keyboard (German mapping) I'd like from Europe. Rebadging a QWERTY keyboard would also not work because e.g. the Enter key is different and some other keys are displaced because of it. I can work with Windows having the correct mapping, but I'd just love to have the real thing.
Yep. I have about 6 Model M's. Four are the highly sought after Space Saver model, and one of those is new in an unopened original box. I paid zero for them, since they were being thrown out at the TV station where I worked. They were supplied with IBM rack equipment at the affiliated radio station in the same building. (KGO AM radio in San Francisco) Whoever tossed them out had NO idea how much they were worth. Love my Model M's more than modern mechanical keyboards. ( I have one RGB with blue switches. Just doesn't do it for me. Except I like that I can make it light up with just red or blue or white so I can see the keyboard at night).
For me the standard Model M has the perfect look to go with the feel. The M2 is too new and doesn't have the early computing look of the first version.
@@TechTangents would you be able to recommend me to a website that will sell me extra springs lol i got whiskey and coke in mine and lost some springs..
I've got a Model M that broke after falling 1.5 ft onto a hardwood floor. About 1/3rd of the keys (all on the left side, where it struck the floor) stopped "clicking" and it looks like to fix it I'd have to take the back plate off the keyboard mechanism (which you showed at 5:30) which I'm not entirely inclined to do. If you want one to practice that bolt mod on without risking any of your working ones (or just for spare parts or whatever) I'd be happy to send it to you for just the cost of shipping. Send me a PM on RUclips if you're interested.
lol, no dude. look in computer magazines from the late 1980s and early 1990s. the model m was absolutely considered to be a mechanical design. trying to redefine words decades later just makes you look like a fool.
I remember typing on the model M at school when I was a kid. They were nice compared to rubber dome, but not that impressive compared to modern switches.
Spacebar with index finger?
aaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA INTERNAL SCREAMING
EpicLPer REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Suppose to be thumb, yeah, yeah, whatevs
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Sometimes, when i fall asleep, i type on the spacebar with my nose.
everything with index finger
Watching this inspired me to finally fix a broken old "spares" Model M I have. Ran four wires to the indicator lights, one wire to the membrane, and it works perfectly now! Those flex ribbon cables just seem to have a habit of failing over time.
I think i`ve seen one of those ribbon cables failing due to a liquid damage. The trace was disappearing where it made contact with orange juice
In love with this channel, it's kinda like druaga and the 8 Bit Guy fused. xD
Entertaining and actually informative. Keep the videos coming!
PS: MODEL M MASTER RACE BITCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cherry MX red is still amazing, you're not missing too much. I don't know which I prefer, my Cherry MX Blue knockoff keyboard or my Model M, they're both great typing experiences, to me Model M isn't necessarily better, just different.
Hi. That was super entertaining!! I don't know ANYTHING about how to do any of that, but loved how easy you made it look. This is my favorite keyboard as well but I stopped using it for a bit. your video has inspired me to bring it back out. I love the keys and the sound..... ahh! I just feel I can type so much better on this keyboard. Thank you for reminding me how much I love this keyboard!!
There's something satisfying about the clickity-clak of a mechanical keyboard.. Due to lack of desk space, I had to get something smaller, so I got a Nixeus MODA-Pro mechanical keyboard with the "click tactile" keys. It was 60 bucks, but worth it. Not only does it feel great, but like the M, it's built like a tank with a solid aluminum body. And with it's brushed silver body and bright, white keys, it looks gorgeous.
These keyboards... I'm in heaven watching these O_O.
I am trying to fix my IBM Model M keyboard. I spilled a bit of ginger ale on my left portion. Very little bit. I've torn down the board and all. I also sprayed electronics parts cleaner on it. I left the board alone and had thought it was drained out but in morning picked it up and to my dismay it had the parts cleaner liquid in there. It dried and cracked the plastic part where keys pop in and hammer springs sit in. I was able to repair that. The rubber mat is a bit affected but washed it off with some hand soap. All the plastic rivet pieces are all off as a result and now need to do screw mod. I will do that tomorrow. I will also use a bit of rubbing alcohol on the mylar printed circuit portion and hope that does not hurt anything. Or maybe I should use a bit of water on micro fiber cloth and clean the plastic portions. I just really hope that I can succeed with this.
I call the keyboard I'm trying to fix up Rhonda. I have so many hours on this keyboard for work and gaming. Hoping I will succeed. The one I keep around at work is Mandy hehe.
Another parts keyboard on the way and always looking for more. Just don't want to spend a ton of money on them. Hard to find them cheap or whatever. I LOVE these keyboards since I type so often. Using a horrible rubber dome wireless Logitech keyboard. Save me!!!!!!! :-/
Think I am making the right choices on cleaning and such?
You are being to agressive. Never use alcohol on mylar membranes. I guess you learned that a few months ago.
@@ronstar7027 I most certainly did! lol. Well I was certainly upset at myself for doing that. Still using it and am typing this reply with that same keyboard. So seems I did a decent job fixing it up again :). Rhonda (I named it lol) lives!
"Fleet", my good sir you have reached Armada territory here. With a repair line to boot. Admiral AkBKukU on the deck.
I have a couple that are going to need a bolt mod one of these days. Not in a hurry, I have 12 more and parts two... LOL
Cleaning these are a all day treat!. I have all of the flavors of cables. Sad they abandoned the 5 pin dim plugs. it was a better plug...
Love the video! Thanks!
LLAP
Best ASMR at start of the video :D
Surprisingly effective!
You need some Flex Tape to fix that Flex Cable
IBM MODEL M is membrane, although not rubberdome. Model F is mechanical.
lol, dude. saying a Model M is not mechanical is like saying Bob Marley didn't sing reggae. in its time the Model M was absolutely known as a mechanical keyboard, and if you try to redefine words decades later to include only the Cherry and its knockoffs, and the keyboard included with the PC, XT and the mainframe terminals, you look like a fool.
@@ssl3546 but people distinguish between membranes and mechanical, so the Model M is clearly membrane. It is however not a rubber dome keyboard, like most membrane keyboards.
I have a Unicomp Model M (they are made using the original tooling) and it works great. It's cool to have a new Model M. You can get them in USB too, although mine is PS/2 because my Linux machine has a port for it and I can use it on legacy statement if I so choose in the future.
If you want to bolt mod, you can get a spare membrane from Unicomp (they still make Model Ms with the original tooling, just modernized). They also have an industrial gray case available IIRC
8 is quite a few, I approve, and LGR would too
Not sure I could say goodbye to the super/Windows key of modem keyboards.
I just remap my caps lock key to my Super/Meta key.
I wish I could replace the Windows logo with a Tux.
Unicomp makes new, genuine Model M's, with USB, and super key. They're not just replicas; they're like, manufactured to the same spec.
I've gotten used to using caps lock as my windows key on my model m. It's actually better placed for shortcuts imo.
noobs
Nice, just remember to clean that (filthy) awesome Model M, you lucky! Cheers, M
Ah, so that's how typing sounds on a model m keyboard made by IBM.
Hello, first of all I want to thank you for the information of your video, I have my model m and every time I press the f key, it is displayed correctly (it does not lock when going down and up), however the screen repeats the f indefinitely. What would be the correct procedure to follow to fix this damage, greetings from Peru.
Nice video! I wonder if the ribbon cable contacts could be possibly corroded and cleaned somehow? Thanks for the great video.
guess I'll need a new screwdriver, thanks for the info.
00:00 - 00:40 - ASMR Quality right here XD
Any model M is a good candidate for bolt modding. Go ahead and do it and you don't have to worry about anything for the rest of the life of your keyboard.
I know this is gonna sound dumb, but how in the world do you remove the ribbon cables? None of my LEDs work and I've been trying to tinker with it, but I really don't wanna make anything worse.
I have model M keyboard, but the letter "q" on the key board is not working, how do fix it? thanks, I've tried to cleaned it out so many times, sitll not working.
Did the flex cable just break with age because I was under the impression that it normally takes the cable being subjected to a forceful and sudden change in position to cause a flex cable to fail. However that cable stayed inside the keyboard so it could not have moved a significant amount. Great video as usual!
Maybe someone was in the keyboard before and pinched the cable when putting the connector in.
Maybe it's liquid damage, i forget which one had orange juice residue in it. Obviously fruit is acidic, promotes metal oxidation.
Sometimes friction can be a factor, my old Mitsumi seems to have failed due to that. There is minute little movement in the flex membrane from the keyboard being operated, so friction against another part occurs.
One of my 1391401 M's left shift key occasionally sticks down. I've cleaned the alignment post and hole with rubbing alcohol; no happy. A light coat of sewing machine oil on the post; no happy. So far, swapping left shift keys between two functional M's worked. Any idea what might be the issue, other than a weak'ish buckling spring?
i find just replacing the whole cable, using a 4 pin fan header and connector, so you can break the circuit, and then using some old ide cable, the best fix
The video
Begins with h
o
Nicholas Lovan H. H.
One of the plastic rivets drops off during a jump cut
I wonder if the series resistance of the ribbon cable has any functionality in the electrical design. If so, then replacing it with a wire is not a good idea.
I have one of these (1991 version). The green lights come on/off when connected via USB to the computer, but when I press the keys, nothing types on the screen. Any idea what could be wrong? Thank you.
THE IBM MODEL M IS NOT A MECHANICAL KEYBOARD. The actual key actuation happens with a membrane.
Yes. You are correct. However, the keys ARE unique buckling spring design.
Bought a set of keycaps from unicomp and they completely changed the key-feel.
Didn't feel like the same keyboard with them on, threw them in the trash and went back to my regular ones.
But now there's no springiness on the keys that were fitted with the unicomp caps.
Will changing the springs solve the issue or do i have to disassemble the entire board?.
Those old style ribbon cables kinda disintegrate on their own. See more or less every single ZX Spectrum keyboard.
the start of the video is ASMR
would love to see you make a Bluetooth version of a model m keyboard
Its NOT a mechanical keyboard. The actuator itself is a membrane. it has a mechanical component but its not part of the actual actuator. Why does that matter? because you repair it as if it was a membrane, ie scrape the contact areas, check for damage etc...
Where as a mechanical switch like mx youd have to replace completely and solder on a new piece.
Source: IBMs patent application
what do i have to do to take one off your hands?
I have a couple of these, and I'm pretty sure you could beat a man to death with one and it would still work fine, was wondering how it broke.
Your trace was probably corroded by a spilled drink. I'm surprised you didn't consider running a conductive-ink pen along the trace; that might well have fixed it.
in real live is the noise much much better :D
where did you find all those model Ms ?
hey dude
how can i properly align the flipper of the spring on my model m its too far up and how can i move the flipper without opening the keyboard
You can't. You will have to be prepared to do the bolt mod, since opening the keyboard to get at the spring flippers requires breaking off all the plastic rivets.
"The LED is not responding correctly!"
DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUUUUUN.
THE POWER OF THE NUT (keyboard nut)
If you need help with bolt-modding a Model M, I've done it on half a dozen of them. If you need advice, I have some.
I wish IBM would resurrect the Model M, exactly as is, but with the extra new Windows keys and USB connected (I'd like one with the German mapping).
Unicomp is the closest to that.
Indeed, it's very close. But it's difficult to get something from the US to Costa Rica due to complicated customs procedures and shipping costs, not to mention that I'd have to get the QWERTZ keyboard (German mapping) I'd like from Europe. Rebadging a QWERTY keyboard would also not work because e.g. the Enter key is different and some other keys are displaced because of it. I can work with Windows having the correct mapping, but I'd just love to have the real thing.
Please do a bolt mod video there aren't any good YT tutorials
model m ASMR
If you think that is filthy, than wait how the one i didn't refurbish yet looks like......... Oh it`s cleaner than the one i use xD
good news, gamers favor the ps2 connector. I don't think it's going away as a motherboard interface anytime soon.
Yep. I have about 6 Model M's. Four are the highly sought after Space Saver model, and one of those is new in an unopened original box. I paid zero for them, since they were being thrown out at the TV station where I worked. They were supplied with IBM rack equipment at the affiliated radio station in the same building. (KGO AM radio in San Francisco) Whoever tossed them out had NO idea how much they were worth. Love my Model M's more than modern mechanical keyboards. ( I have one RGB with blue switches. Just doesn't do it for me. Except I like that I can make it light up with just red or blue or white so I can see the keyboard at night).
whats your thoughts on the M2?
For me the standard Model M has the perfect look to go with the feel. The M2 is too new and doesn't have the early computing look of the first version.
@@TechTangents would you be able to recommend me to a website that will sell me extra springs lol i got whiskey and coke in mine and lost some springs..
clickykeyboards.com/product/ibm-buckling-spring-assembly-set-of-10/
Its possible to broke model M?
How the fuck
I've got a Model M that broke after falling 1.5 ft onto a hardwood floor. About 1/3rd of the keys (all on the left side, where it struck the floor) stopped "clicking" and it looks like to fix it I'd have to take the back plate off the keyboard mechanism (which you showed at 5:30) which I'm not entirely inclined to do. If you want one to practice that bolt mod on without risking any of your working ones (or just for spare parts or whatever) I'd be happy to send it to you for just the cost of shipping. Send me a PM on RUclips if you're interested.
Why don't just donated to him and pay for the cheaper shipping. ???
You are wrong, the model m is NOT a mechanical keyboard, it is a membrane keyboard.
It still rules.
lol, no dude. look in computer magazines from the late 1980s and early 1990s. the model m was absolutely considered to be a mechanical design. trying to redefine words decades later just makes you look like a fool.
I remember typing on the model M at school when I was a kid. They were nice compared to rubber dome, but not that impressive compared to modern switches.
10th comment. Not that anyone cares.
I cared.