IBM Model M SSK bolt mod questions.

[Frankied]

Hello all,

I have a IBM model M SSK, and I cant tell if it needs a bolt mod or not. What are some ways to tell if it needs a bolt mod?

Also, what are some issues that I can run into bolt modding this type of keyboard?

Thanks in advance.

[adamkov]

In my opinion if you can't tell that it needs a bolt mod, then it doesn't.
Unless the keyfeel is not problematic, I wouldn't touch it.
It can be frustrating to get it right.

[Frankied]

In my opinion if you can't tell that it needs a bolt mod, then it doesn't.
Unless the keyfeel is not problematic, I wouldn't touch it.
It can be frustrating to get it right.

Yeah, it doesn't show any signs its just old and will probably need one in the future, and I worry that the plastic frame the barrel plate I think its called will end up cracking if I keep using it.

What are the common signs that a model M may need a bolt mod?

[swampangel]

Generally if there's a zone of keys that feel "mushy" or don't send keystrokes reliably, that part is suffering from missing rivets.

You can always safely disassemble the shell (not the inner assembly) and see where the rivet heads have fallen off.

If you don't want to fully disassemble it, you can do a partial screw mod, where you just drill into the centre of some of the broken rivets and install M2 screws.

And if you do crack the barrel plate, unless it's really severe, you can repair it with epoxy.

[Frankied]

Generally if there's a zone of keys that feel "mushy" or don't send keystrokes reliably, that part is suffering from missing rivets.

You can always safely disassemble the shell (not the inner assembly) and see where the rivet heads have fallen off.

If you don't want to fully disassemble it, you can do a partial screw mod, where you just drill into the centre of some of the broken rivets and install M2 screws.

And if you do crack the barrel plate, unless it's really severe, you can repair it with epoxy.

Thanks for the input. Have you ever done a bolt mod?

[swampangel]

I've done full and partial screw mods based on viewtopic.php?f=7&t=9169

using these screws/drill size viewtopic.php?p=436783#p436783