Duo 2300C keyboard is stiff

[AC Rempt]

Hi. Just came into possession of a very nice PowerBook Duo 2300C. Everything seems perfect, but the keyboard is stiff as a corpse. I really need to press the keys for them to register, making typing a huge pain. My plan is to pull the keyboard and clean it with some IPA, but I just ran across a Reddit thread saying IPA is not a good idea for Duo keyboards.

So should I just pull the keys and dust it/clean out grime with an eraser and some air? Or is there another method that works well for these machines?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[aladds]

I have used keyboard lubricant to slightly improve a Duo keyboard before, but honestly they aren’t great keyboards. The biggest issue is usually the metal plate underneath which warps due to uneven heat from below.

I think someone developed a replacement with modern keycaps, but I’m not sure if it has ever been “released” or the designs made public.

 

[Byrd]

They were never amazing keyboards and over time the rubber domes contract/harden from age making key presses less precise and firmer. Yes, you can probably improve it by pulling the keys, cleaning the domes and removing any crud underneath with light lubrication at a final touch.