Sorting Out Flats JD800 Sticky Key - Red Glue

Red glue. Photo by Alexander James Edwards

In the Harmony Central site, the Keys, Synths & Samples forum is the one of the best group about synths and synth players I have found.

From there is this great post about one of the famous problems of the JD-800: the sticky key, also know as the Red glue problem. .

Link to the original topic: ***Flats-JD800-Sticky-Key-Session-***



Topics created by Flat Earth - Vive La Synthesizer! You find him at www.gearslutz.com

***Flats JD800 Sticky Key Session ***

Heres a very quick guide to sorting out the infamous Roland JD800 'Sticky key problem'
As you are only allowed 10 images, I´m 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 (left 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 (left 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 (right 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. (See above right)

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. (Right image)

At this point, you should be able to see the ‘Red glue’ that is causing the sticky key (red glue) 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 (left 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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Additional comments from that topic and very useful info from the topic follow. (Edited)

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Comment by Don Solaris - Certified Synth Maniac

Unfortunately, cleaning of damping strip from bottom side is not that easy. And the only solution (after you clear keys and before you put them back) is to take a small piece of Post-It paper and put it right over the glue. Glue will hold it, and key won't be sticky anymore.

Same can be applied to top side of damping strip as in many cases, the glue already penetrated it deep enough, that you can no longer cut it out with scalpel.

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Comment by  MarkShovel2

I found it was essential to get the metal spring clips uniformally seated on each key. I had a few black keys that were stiff. I observed that the metal clips were not correctly seated into the top of the key. When correctly seated, everything is very uniform. The action now approaches my two V-Synths.

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Comment by Flat Earth

Id thought of putting a small piece of thin plastic or paper over the saturated parts of the damping strip, but after gently cutting it out, i was able to 'fluff' it up, with a needle back to a pretty good state.

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Comment by 4thtry

As in your case the black keys were causing the majority of the problem. I used a tube of silicon instead of hot glue to try and seal in the offending red glue. I had to be careful not to add too much or the little metal stopper with the rubber jacket would come in contact and add unwanted friction.

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Comment by Flat Earth

when i inserted the hot glue, i had to be careful not to put too much in. I found a small blob either side of the weight did the trick. Used a small screw driver to spread it over the red glue, but you have to be quick, the hot glue sets quite quickly.

I didnt do the white keys btw. Even if they had 'leaked', they wouldnt cause any problems with the keybed mech as they arnt above it. I will be keeping an eye on them though.

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Comment by Flat Earth

Update

After repairing the keyboard action (which now plays super smooth) i found I had a few dead notes. I thought the culprit may well be the rubber dome key contacts, so i took it apart again and made a note of which keys failed to play. I then swapped one of the 5 grey strips with another and checked to see if the key played. **BINGO** they worked. They rubber strip must have worn out. Its best to replace all 5, but remember, the 5th strip (top octave) is different to the lower 4 octave strips. It has 13 contacts rather then 12 like on the other lower octaves. Take this into account when ordering replacements. 

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Another topic for the Red Glue problem is: One fix for red glue problem.

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Great news! JD-800 flex circuit replacement!

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