Is this button broken?

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Teenage Engineering OP-1

The OP-1 is a portable music workstation incorporating a synthesizer, sampler, sequencer, multitrack recorder, drum machine, mixer, and controller. It was released in 2011.

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yake @yake_the_snake

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Posted: Sep 25, 2026

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Is this button broken?

I put a tightly fitting case on my original OP-1 and the shift key was pried off. Originally the scissor switch disassembled, but I got the two halves back together successfully.

I'm having a hard time getting it to snap back onto the board. I can't tell that anything has snapped off, but I'm just comparing to references on ebay.

Do I need a replacement button, or is there a trick to getting the buttons back on the board?

I kept playing with it...

There are several small features across the key, scissor mechanism, and board that stop you from assembling pieces backwards.

However, there is a way to put the scissor together backwards, and at least my pieces allowed the inner scissor component to swivel 360°, so there are 4 possible configurations to try to assemble the key to the board, but only one is correct :)

Basically in the original orientation, the two pieces were not working together to create the scissor motion. I could get the piece to hinge on those brackets on the board and then it would fall back off.

In my case, I broke or fatigued the mounting feature on the key when I got what i believe was the correct orientation for it all. Replacement piece it is.

Answer this question I have this problem too

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2 Answers

Malcolm Parker @malcolmpar95155 Rep: 537 3 · Answer 1 · 2026-09-25T12:32:53-07:00

From the pictures, I don’t see an obvious broken piece on the button itself. It looks more like the keycap isn’t engaging the little retaining tabs on the scissor mechanism correctly.

I’d try this with the faceplate off: line up the four small tabs on the underside of the keycap with the scissor assembly, get all four started, then press straight down evenly. Don’t force one corner down by itself or you can pop the scissor back apart.

Since you said it works with the faceplate removed, I’d also check that the faceplate isn’t slightly warped/cracked and pushing the key sideways. If you can, try the key with the faceplate loosely sitting in place but without the screws. If it works until you tighten the screws, the shell is what’s causing the problem, not the button.

honakrisi @honakrisi Rep: 4.5k 14 5 4 · Answer 2 · 2026-09-25T12:33:07-07:00

honakrisi @honakrisi

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Posted: Sep 25, 2026

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From the photos it doesn”t look broken. You just need to make sure that you clip the little tabs back into the clips on the keyboard to get the spring action.

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Teenage Engineering OP-1

Is this button broken?

Update (09/25/26)

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