Key Contact Adjustment Procedure (Flash)

If you are experiencing stacking in your paper notes only and your electronic notes look fine, then your writer probably has a bad clutch and the below described instructions will not help.  Please call our tech support line: 800.937.8228

If you are experiencing stacking in your paper notes and electronic notes in the same place, then the below adjusting procedure may help.

Some reporters prefer to have some keys oversensitive or under sensitive depending on their writing style.  If you have a weak finger, you may want to over sensitize a certain key or group of keys.  If you find that you are picking up certain letters in your electronic notes that you did not depress fully, then you may want to desensitize certain keys.

Step 1:  Set up your Flash as you would normally, with paper loaded if you use paper (The thickness of the paper and ribbon cartridge will make a difference in the adjustment outcome, so it is important to have your writer setup as you would normally use it, with or without ribbon cartridge or paper.)

Step 2:  From the Entry menu, press and hold down the "MODE" button for 1 second.
Step 3:  From the Mode menu, press "UTIL" button.
Step 4:  From the Util menu, press "TEST" button.
Step 5:  From the Test menu, press "KEYS" button.

Step 6:  Now depress any key.  What you should hear is an audible tone when the key is in the down position.  If you do not hear the audible tone, go to Step 8.  The audible beep indicates when the key is making electrical contact.  From this you can determine how sensitive or insensitive each individual key is adjusted.  Assuming you hear the audible tone, let's try adjusting a key.

Step 7:  Now depress a key.  Hold the key in the down position, but without putting any more pressure than necessary in holding the key in the down position.  You should hear the audible tone.  If you have to press the key with a lot of force in order to hear the audible tone, the key is insensitive.  Go to Step 8.  Now start releasing the key extremely slow.  The key should travel 1/16 to 1/4 of an inch upward before the audible tone stops.  If the key travels upward less than 1/16 of an inch before the audible tone stops, the key is insensitive.  Go to Step 8.  If the key travels upward more than an 1/4 of an inch before the audible tone stops, than the key is oversensitive.  Go to Step 9. 

Step 8:  Adjustment for Insensitive Key.  Open the top lid of your writer and insert your adjustment driver (0.035 Allen wrench) into the corresponding screw on the Switch Plate of the key that you are adjusting.  While holding down the key, start turning the screw clockwise until you hear the audible tone.  If you turn more then two full turns clockwise and  the audible tone does not emit, it means  the key switch is ruptured and has been over adjusted at one time.  (It is time to call us at 800.937.8228 for free tech support.)  Now turn the screw 1/8 to 1/4 of a turn more clockwise.  Go through Step 7 again to verify that the key is adjusted properly.

Step 9:  Adjustment for Oversensitive Key.  Open the top lid of your writer and insert your adjustment driver (0.035 Allen wrench) into the corresponding screw on the Switch Plate of the key that you are adjusting.  While holding down the key, start turning the screw counterclockwise until the audible tone stops.  If you turn more then two full turns counterclockwise and  the audible tone does not stop, it means the key switch is ruptured and has been over adjusted at one time and will not de-adjust.  (It is time to call us at  800.937.8228 for free tech support.)  When the audible tone stops, start turning the screw clockwise until the audible tone emits.  Now turn the screw 1/8 to 1/4 of a turn more clockwise.  Go through Step 7 again to verify that the key is adjusted properly.

If you have any questions, call 800.937.8228 for free tech support .