[sdiy] OT Non functioning buttons on U20

[Neil Johnson]

On Sat, 9 Nov 2002, Byron G. Jacquot wrote:
> If they're tact switches, replace them.  They're not too uncommon, and a
> decent catalog will have dozens of choices.  If you have a choice, get ones
> that are rated for more contact cycles in their lifetime.

Hmmmm....looking at some online pictures of the U20 it looks like a
similar construction to my W30.  In which case, the only way to get to the
buttons is to remove everything else---all the circuit boards and also the
keyboard mechanism---as when you turn the unit over to get to the bottom
panel, the front panel PCB is now at the bottom, if you see what I mean.

Having said that, it shouldn't take you too long (an evening) to slowly
dig your way down to the front panel PCB.  The switches themselves are
widely available (there are part numbers on my W30 technical info page)
and are quite easy to replace.

Then its just a matter of reassembling the entire synth, making sure you
don't have any "spare parts" left over :-)

When I got my W30 all the front panel buttons were intermittently working,
so I decided that I might as well replace the complete set.  I'm glad I
did---it now feels like a new synth, all crisp and sharp and responsive!
I also took the opportunity to completely clean the keyboard contacts
(Roland used twin-contact flexible rubber contacts for the keyboard, so
get hold of some cotton ear buds to clean them---no alcohol!!!)

More info, plus pictures, here:
	http:///www.njohnson.co.uk/w30.html

(assuming the server is working...)

Hope it helps,
Neil

--
Neil Johnson :: Computer Laboratory :: University of Cambridge ::
http://www.njohnson.co.uk          http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~nej22
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