Elektron Musical Instruments

Has anybody opened their MD?  I need to get some dust out from under 
the LCD but I don't know how to pull the 8 knobs off and they seem 
pretty well attached.  How do I pull them off without breaking or making 
anything ugly or scratched?

On Tue, Nov 04, 2003 at 01:10:45PM -0000, machinedrum99 wrote:
>    Has anybody opened their MD?  I need to get some dust out from under
>    the LCD but I don't know how to pull the 8 knobs off and they seem
>    pretty  well  attached.   How  do  I pull them off without breaking or
>    making
>    anything ugly or scratched?

I did this recently for both my MD and Mono.  It's pretty easy to do,
actually.  I spoke with a tech at Elektron about doing it and he was
very helpful.  He suggested carefully using a screwdriver between the
knob and the faceplate to help get the knob off.  But I found that this
wasn't necessary; I was able to get the knobs off by hand.  It's easiest
if you grab it very low with your thumb and forefinger.  Wedge your
thumb against the faceplate and the knob and push against the faceplate
with it as you pull with your forefinger.  It will be a bit tougher with
some knobs than others, but it will work just fine and there's no danger
of scratching anything this way.

One word of warning: I was told by Elektron that it is possible to snap
off the encoders themselves while removing the knobs.  *However* I think
they said this is more likely if you use the screwdriver method.
Regardless, I would suggest contacting Elektron if your MD is under
warranty, just to make sure that they're cool with you opening it (and
you don't void your warranty in so doing).  And see if it's possible to
get replacement parts, should you need them (hopefully you won't).

Good luck!
Joe

p.s. be careful not to let your Torx screwdriver slip! that will also
scratch the hell out of the faceplate.

I had to post since I just took off a knob yesterday to check it out.
 I have to replace the LCD screen soon.  The knob is plasic as we all
know.  It encoder shaft is the same material.  The shaft is about 1/3
moon (like in the sky) shape sticking out about 3/4 inches(1.5 cm?). 
The knob has a corresponding hole to fit the moon.  Just grip and pull
slowly straight up, don't pull any force to the side.  It's snug and
smooth.  I wouldn't do this too many times.  You's probably wear down
the hole and shaft since they are the same material.  Slide it back on
with one finger smoothly. 

--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, Joe <jmelnyk@c...> wrote:
> On Tue, Nov 04, 2003 at 01:10:45PM -0000, machinedrum99 wrote:
> >    Has anybody opened their MD?  I need to get some dust out from
under
> >    the LCD but I don't know how to pull the 8 knobs off and they seem
> >    pretty  well  attached.   How  do  I pull them off without
breaking or

> >    making
> >    anything ugly or scratched?
> 
> I did this recently for both my MD and Mono.  It's pretty easy to do,
> actually.  I spoke with a tech at Elektron about doing it and he was
> very helpful.  He suggested carefully using a screwdriver between the
> knob and the faceplate to help get the knob off.  But I found that this
> wasn't necessary; I was able to get the knobs off by hand.  It's easiest
> if you grab it very low with your thumb and forefinger.  Wedge your
> thumb against the faceplate and the knob and push against the faceplate
> with it as you pull with your forefinger.  It will be a bit tougher with
> some knobs than others, but it will work just fine and there's no danger
> of scratching anything this way.
> 
> One word of warning: I was told by Elektron that it is possible to snap
> off the encoders themselves while removing the knobs.  *However* I think
> they said this is more likely if you use the screwdriver method.
> Regardless, I would suggest contacting Elektron if your MD is under
> warranty, just to make sure that they're cool with you opening it (and
> you don't void your warranty in so doing).  And see if it's possible to
> get replacement parts, should you need them (hopefully you won't).
> 
> Good luck!
> Joe
> 
> p.s. be careful not to let your Torx screwdriver slip! that will also
> scratch the hell out of the faceplate.

On Thu, Nov 06, 2003 at 11:00:56AM -0000, endlessnessisticman wrote:
>    I had to post since I just took off a knob yesterday to check it out.
>    I have to replace the LCD screen soon.

that sucks. what happened?

>    The knob is plasic as we all
>    know.  It encoder shaft is the same material.  The shaft is about 1/3
>    moon (like in the sky) shape sticking out about 3/4 inches(1.5 cm?).
>    The knob has a corresponding hole to fit the moon.  Just grip and pull
>    slowly straight up, don't pull any force to the side.

yes it's important not to put sideways force on it. when I was
describing a way to use your thumb as leverage, I didn't mean to imply
that sideways force should be added. it should be upwards. 

however, I should say that you might have gotten lucky with the knob you
pulled off. that is, they're not all as easy to pull as you describe.
some of them are on there *very* tightly.

Joe

I have mentioned this before, but my now wife knocked something off 
the shelf and landed on the screen.  It's cracked.

Other than that, thanks for the warning on the knobs.  

--- In elektron-users@yahoogroups.com, Joe <jmelnyk@c...> wrote:
> On Thu, Nov 06, 2003 at 11:00:56AM -0000, endlessnessisticman 
wrote:
> >    I had to post since I just took off a knob yesterday to check 
it out.
> >    I have to replace the LCD screen soon.
> 
> that sucks. what happened?
> 
> >    The knob is plasic as we all
> >    know.  It encoder shaft is the same material.  The shaft is 
about 1/3
> >    moon (like in the sky) shape sticking out about 3/4 inches
(1.5 cm?).
> >    The knob has a corresponding hole to fit the moon.  Just grip 
and pull
> >    slowly straight up, don't pull any force to the side.
> 
> yes it's important not to put sideways force on it. when I was
> describing a way to use your thumb as leverage, I didn't mean to 
imply
> that sideways force should be added. it should be upwards. 
> 
> however, I should say that you might have gotten lucky with the 
knob you
> pulled off. that is, they're not all as easy to pull as you 
describe.

> some of them are on there *very* tightly.
> 
> Joe

On Fri, Nov 07, 2003 at 06:24:07AM -0000, endlessnessisticman wrote:
>    I have mentioned this before, but my now wife knocked something off
>    the shelf and landed on the screen.  It's cracked.
>    Other than that, thanks for the warning on the knobs.

I remember that, but that was quite awhile ago that this happened, no?
I guess I assumed that problem had been fixed and that you were not the
person who posted it.

Anyway, good luck with the repair!

Joe