Help with Osborne Executive Keyboard

[Mark_E]

Hi All,

I'm having a problem with the capslock key on my Osborne Executive computer keyboard. The key action feels "mushy" and soft, unlike the other keys. When the shift key is held down, it will still produce capital letters, but the caplock key appears to be inop. Upon partial disassembly noted the capslock key uses what appears to be a tension spring, it runs alongside the keycap base. Thinking this might be stuck, I cleaned and manipulated the spring, noting there was little or no slack in it (Don't know if this is normal?)-Upon reassembly, I now have ONLY caps, no lowercase! Disassembled and "worked" the spring again, upon reassembly I'm now back to capslock inop., but shift key + letter will produce uppercase letters. (Aargh!) Does anyone here have experience with Osborne (or any similar type) keyboards? I would appreciate any help I can get with this problem. Thanks, Mark E.

 

[barythrin]

Does it also have those cork pads or is it only spring/membrane based? I haven't done many successful keyboard repairs other than what you've already done and finding the spring not to be properly seated or connected to the key. You could try some contact cleaner if you think it's just the metal not making a good connection but it does sound like a spring issue from afar.