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Parts for Individual Keys ...

  Why buy a whole keyboard when you can repair by replacing just 1 or 2 keys?
 Replacing a key is easy, avoid the hassle and expense of installing a keyboard.
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Apple MacBook Pro, Air (unibody) Keyboard Key Replacement Guide

Differences Between Key Positions of
Different Sizes and Different Hinge Mechanism Types (W1 and W2)

The standard size (letters, numbers, etc.) key positions, with a type W1 hinge, are featured in the photographs in this installation/replacement guide. However, the techniques of key part replacement are basically the same across all key position sizes and hinge mechanism types (W1 and W2).

The scissor hinge mechanisms of some key positions are turned through 90° relative to that of the key positions highlighted in the photographs. Also, the largest key positions (i.e. the spacebar and both shifts) use 2 hinge mechanisms rather than 1 used every where else. The hinge mechanisms of the small key positions (e.g. f1) are more fiddly to remove and replace than the others. Some special techniques for small and very small hinges are included below. Click here to view different sized hinges.

Removing a Key-cap

Slide a fingernail, or similarly flat, stiff edge, under one corner of the key-cap and pull up gradually until the key-cap "pops" off.

Fingernail problem? Unless your fingernails are long, it can be a bit tough to slide them underneath initially. I often use the thin, stiff card of my supermarket checkout scanner card to slide under the edge to get going.

key position with key-cap placed over it finger pressing down to clip on key-cap key-cap correctly fixed in key position key position with key-cap placed over it finger pressing down to clip on key-cap key-cap correctly fixed in key position

Replacing a Key-cap

Line up the replacement key-cap and press down to "click" the key-cap onto the scissor hinge mechanism's 4 "clip" positions.

key position with key-cap placed over it finger pressing down to clip on key-cap key-cap correctly fixed in key position
Pressing down on the 4 "clip" positions can either be done by pressing down on the middle of the key-cap to "click" on all 4 points at once or one point at a time by rolling your finger around toward each of the key-cap's corners.

Replacing a Scissor Hinge Mechanism

Scissor hinge mechanisms are attached to the keyboard base by a metal flange and 2 small metal loops (see top middle image). Each hinge mechanism has a corresponding "flange hold" area and 2 loop "nobs" (see top right image).

To attach a scissor mechanism maneuver it over the key position. Then slip the "flange hold area" under the "flange," (look at left pointing arrow in the bottom row, left picture) and angle/position the hinge mechanism so that 1 of the 2 		Slight Variations: This arrangement of flanges and loops is rotated by 90° at some key positions so that the flange is at the bottom and the loops are at the top.
key position with key-cap and scissor mechanism removed loops and flange high-lighted loop nobs and flange hold high-lighted hinge slipped under flange push other side of hinge into place scissor hinge mechanism in place at key position
loops and flange high-lighted
loop nobs and flange hold high-lighted
hinge slipped under flange

Tip: The "flange area hold" should notch in, when wrong-side-up it bulges out.
"loop nobs" is either poking through its loop or is resting to point through the loop (look at downward pointing arrow in the bottom row, left picture).

Push on the hinge on the edge opposite(other side) the loop "nob" positioned to go through its loop (middle picture bottom row). This does 3 things; (i) it pushes the loop "nob" through its loop; (ii) it rotates the hinge around to its proper orientation; (iii) the rotation also lines up the other loop "nob" so it is positioned to go through its (the other) loop. Now, gradually, reduce your pushing pressure which allows the other loop "nob" to back into place inside its loop - You're done!

key position with scissor mechanism's tongue hold placed under the tongue flange
hooks of key position high-lighted
 Small Key Positioning Trick: For small key positions, add in the following "trick" to the installation positioning part (i.e. as in lower row, right-side picture above): Scotch tape one corner of a small hinge just on the underside of one of its "loop nobs". Now carry out the hinge positioning step as above but use the small piece of Scotch tape to raise its corner so that it sits on top of its loop and pushes the other "loop nob" through its loop (see picture at left). When the first "loop nob" is snug inside its loop remove the Scotch tape and do the rest as above.

Removing a Scissor Hinge Mechanism

This is basically the reverse of replacing a scissor hinge mechanism (see last section) only easier. Push on either one (NOT both) of the edges of the scissor hinge mechanism at points indicated by the arrows in pictures at right - see also the bottom row middle
picture in the last section. Push to get the "loop nob" out from inside its loop (see pictures in the last section), then release the pressure on the hinge while angling the hinge so that the "loop nob" comes out above and out of its loop. Once one of the "loop nobs" is out of its loop the hinge can come off completely with a little jiggling.

Disclaimer

This help guide is provided as is and irithm takes no responsibility for any injury or damage done to yourself or your laptop through actions that include opening the interior body of your laptop or inserting or removing anything into or from any its ports (USB, ethernet etc.) or through the use of laptop key parts (key-caps and key scissors) not purchased from irithm through irithm.com or ebay.com.

Laptop key replacement should not affect warranties but you have to check your own warranty to be sure.
© irithm 2009