Roland JD-800 sticky keys service / repair
Heres a very quick guide to sorting out the infamous Roland JD800 'Sticky key problem'
As you are only allowed 10 images, im sorry if it is not too clear.
Remove the 8 screws located under the ‘ROLAND’ logo on the back of the JD800. then the 2 screws on the underside of the JD and the 3 screws at either ends (top image). The top facia of the synth will open up like a bonnet revealing the circuitry and keyboard (a strap on the left hand side prevents the lid/facia from falling back)
The keyboard can now be removed. Firstly, gently prize out the ribbon connector that connects the keyboard to the motherboard (top image). Using a side-to-side motion (don’t force it!), then unscrew the 6 gold screws running along the top of the keyboard chassis (bottom image), and the 5 screws underneath the synth (holding the keyboard steady)
The whole keyboard assembly should slide forward easily now. Before taking apart the keyboard, its best to lay it face down on a towel or soft cloth (keep a dish handy for small parts)
On the back of the metal keyboard chassis, there are 5 black strips securing each octave of the keys. Remove 1 strip and the one octave of keys at a time. A knife or flat screwdriver can be inserted under the strip to gently prise it off. (Bottom image)
After the strip has been removed, each key can be taken out by gently pushing it out. (After each key has been removed, take out each corresponding metal spring clip that is underneath the key, and put it somewhere safe. Put all the keys in order, upside down on a piece of board. (bottom image)
At this point, you should be able to see the ‘Red glue’ that is causing the sticky key problem. I found in my case, all the problems seem to emanate from the glue leaking from the ‘black keys’. The glue had dripped down onto the damping strip & between the keys themselves. (see below)
The ‘Red glue’ can be cleaned easily from between the keys. The glue that has fouled the damping strip on the other hand (top image), has to be gently scraped off with a scalpel. I found some of the glue had been absorbed by the damping strip. I was able to cut it out, and then ‘fluff up’ the resulting hole. If the damping strip were too heavily saturated with glue, it would be a better idea to replace it (if Roland can still supply this).
Once all the glue has been cleaned away, it’s worth cleaning the contacts. Just remove the 5 grey rubber contact suspension mats and clean the whole strip with a light tissue doused in cleaning fluid. (Be careful removing these mats, as the small rubber securing cones can tear easily!)
The keyboard section can now be re-assembled and tested.
I found that putting a thin layer of hot glue over the ‘red glue’ in the black keys could prevent further leakage in the future. But not too much as to make the key too heavy.
Hope this is of use to anybody experiencing similar problems.
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Update:
Another problem regarding the JD800's keybed is dead keys.
Sometimes removing the 5 grey rubber contact strips and cleaning the contact rail can bring a dead key back to life, but from experience, I found replacing the strips completely was a good and relitavly cheap cure. Be aware that the top octave rubber strip is longer than the lower 4 octaves. I found as a quick test, that taking off a suspect strip (marking the dead key first) and then replacing it tempararily with one from another octave would show whether it was the strip itself of the contact rail that needed attention.
I sourced a new set of strips from our good friend Senso at
vintage_planet
Text / images copyright Flat Earth 08.04.2007.