# Experiencing a sticky left shift key

**URL:** <https://community.keyboard.io/t/experiencing-a-sticky-left-shift-key/2919>\
**Category:** Help and Getting Started\
**Created:** [June 3, 2019, 10:50pm UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/experiencing-a-sticky-left-shift-key/2919 "2019-06-03T22:50:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HapticBovine](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/hapticbovine/32/945_2.png) [@HapticBovine](https://community.keyboard.io/u/HapticBovine)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 10:50pm UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/experiencing-a-sticky-left-shift-key/2919/1 "2019-06-03T22:50:53Z")

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Hi there,

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced a sticky modifier key (it is physically sticking a little bit), and how did you solve the problem (if you did)?

Is it possible to lubricate the switch with something?

Alternatively, I was thinking about replacing the key switch mechanisms with quiet linear switches from Mattias, and wondering if I might like them more anyway.

Kind regards from Canada  
~HB

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**Author:** ![gregoire](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/gregoire/32/2008_2.png) [@gregoire](https://community.keyboard.io/u/gregoire)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 7:17am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/experiencing-a-sticky-left-shift-key/2919/2 "2019-06-07T07:17:17Z")

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I have the exact same issue. In my case I believe it’s caused by friction between the keycap and the enclosure. (Maybe you can check by removing the keycap and pressing the switch stem directly a bunch of time, it it doesn’t stick then it’s not the switch).

I’ve try sanding the enclosure with some result but it’s still sticking some days so I probably need to remove more material. I’m suspecting that the wood is deforming and this is causing keycap to brush against the enclosure. I live in Sweden, so it might be something about northern climate that doesn’t suit the Model 1…

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**Author:** ![HapticBovine](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/hapticbovine/32/945_2.png) [@HapticBovine](https://community.keyboard.io/u/HapticBovine)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 11:39am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/experiencing-a-sticky-left-shift-key/2919/3 "2019-06-07T11:39:37Z")

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Actually the last bit after the tactile bump is the hardest to press going down, I think it is a switch problem.

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**Author:** ![pettys1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/pettys1/32/432_2.png) [@pettys1](https://community.keyboard.io/u/pettys1)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2025, 3:48pm UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/experiencing-a-sticky-left-shift-key/2919/4 "2025-01-08T15:48:04Z")

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After several months of use on a Model 100, I found both right and left shift keys to be sticking due to touching the enclosure. Shaving the corners of the shift keys a bit with a knife solved it.

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/keyboard/original/2X/c/c897805fd95aa7f63ade294a0b86d588903e3912.jpeg)

Of course doing this removes the paint from the key cap and exposes the white underneath, so if that cosmetic would bother you, you might want to try something more sophisticated.