This week I had a dead key develop on my SL88. I know there are quite a few people on here using the SL88 so though it worth posting this here should any of you ever encounter the same issue. Some Googling revealed what the culprit might be, so here’s my experience of fixing this issue.
You will only need a few basic tools, a Philips/crosshead screwdriver, a flat screwdriver and something with a thin shaft and a flat end (I used a small 3mm Allen key).
First of all, you only need to remove the top cover, not the actual keybed itself. To do this, remove both side panels. All the retaining bolts are the same sized crosshead bolts. Then remove all the retaining bolts from the channel that runs across the back of the keyboard.
Now you can remove the top. Prise it up slowly as there is some stretchy sticky glue holding it down in 3 places across the width. Be careful not to pull it away too far, as there is a ribbon cable attached. Simply rest it behind the keyboard as shown in the picture at the top.
Now you need to remove the dead key. It is a good idea to stick a bit of tape or a post-it note on the key before you take the keyboard cover off so you remember exactly which one it is. Removing the key requires you to put your finger behind it and pull it towards the front until it clicks. You may need to pull it moderately hard.
Once it has clicked you need to lift it out, but to dos o, you will need to bend the metal casing outwards by a couple of millimetres to get enough clearance (this is where the flat-head screwdriver comes in), but it will then simply lift out. Here’s a quick video showing the procedure:
Once the key is removed, you may see that the little rubber pad with three detents will look something like this:
Use your thin-shafted implement (an Allen key in my case) to gently push the centres down and it should then look like this:
Now, replace the key and click it back into place. Rest the top cover back in place and quickly power up the keyboard to check your fix has worked. Once confirmed, simply reverse the procedure to screw everything back together again.