Stiff Keyboard Key Hinge

exciter

Distinguished
May 19, 2011
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This would be my first keyboard related problem in a long time. The period (.) key of my Lenovo Ideapad Y510P has recently been making a "crunching" noise when pressed, as if there were crumbs underneath it. There were no crumbs or anything when I opened it up and even gave it a good spray with some keyboard cleaning compressed air. It still makes a "clicking" and "crunching noise when pressed. What I DID notice about it was that the key's white hinge is very stiff. When propped up it doesn't fall back to it's original resting position but rather stays up until gently pushed down again. Does anybody know how one would fix this? If I try to remove the hinge will it break?

Thanks,
Eric
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Kurdain1

Distinguished
Nov 30, 2007
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Remove the key and try putting a very small drop of light oil on it, work it back and forth and see if it loosens up. Wipe off any excess when you are through.
Perhaps something is causing it to stick inside where the metal hinge rotates on the clips that hold the 'hinge' (if it is the type of keyboard I am thinking of).

As far as removing I think these are put in place to help the key travel straight up and down if the key is pressed on one side or at an angle, so removing it might make it start sticking.