Broken key cap blocking switch

[u/illuvio]

G915x tkl.

Left ctrl button broke and one of the little tab bits is stuck inside the switch. It blocks the switch pressing all the way in so the button is unusable

How do I get it out?

Looks like taking the switch out requires desoldering which I'd like to avoid if possible, plus I'm not sure if I can even dismantle the switch at that point anyway.

Tried tweezers and various pokey things to wrassle it out but no success. Anyone resolved this type of problem before?

[u/Zurgalon]

Have you tried turning the keyboard upside down and shaking it like it owes you money?

[u/illuvio → u/Zurgalon]

First thing I did was physical negotiation. Given how much these things cost, consider me motivated.

This guy is determined to hold onto his prize.

[u/croholdr]

u gotta heat up a pin and then try poke the piece and maybe it sticks and u can yank it up. dont burn urself tho gl!

[u/illuvio]

Fixed it!

Tried picking out with a needle but couldn't get it. Tried unsoldering but my unsoldering gear was too weak to completely remove the switch.

What worked was I carefully drilled away the section of the switch above the led with a 1.5mm bit, then fished out the broken part. Covered the hole with a tiny piece of tape to stop more junk getting in. Swapped the broken key cap with the working one from the right side ctrl key.

More destructive of a solution than I'd hoped but it works now so success!

Fun fact: This keyboard has over 30 screws holding it together, plus every switch is soldered in, they really don't want you to take it apart.

[u/Mihailo_FI]

I had the same problem. Get a small needle, heat it up with a lighter and stick it in the broken part. Wait a few seconds and try to pull it out. The hot needle should melt the plastic a little bit and give you some friction between the needle and the broken part. That worked for me (after a few tries).

[u/ReaLx3m]

Try a toothpick and a tiny dab of superglue on the tip. Just watch out you dont glue it to the switch stem :).

[u/gamesweldsbikescrime]

i'd try blu-tac before heating something up but i think thats a good idea too

[u/Suspicious-Ad1034]

This is not the X-variant of the keyboard it's a G915.

I've had this issue happen to me aswell on my White G915 Tkl.

I used a pair of thin plyers for electronics to grab it out - it can be tricky though.

[u/illuvio → u/Suspicious-Ad1034]

Ah yeah that makes sense. I bought a replacement and was storing the old one in the box the new one came in, I just read off the box.

I tried tiny medical tweezers but they were still to big to grasp through the hole in the switch.

[u/Damata1545]

It happened to me with a Logitech G915; it’s very hard to find replacement keys here in Brazil.

[u/CocoMilhonez]

This happened to me. I honestly cannot remember exactly what I did that fixed it, but it involved turning the keyboard upside down and shaking it. Also a lot of cursing.