Info on grease for my Roland A90-EX
Bikejog
Hi,
Some of the keys on my Roland A90-EX started to make a slight
"crakling" sound from time to time. I opened the thing up and found that
the grease on those keys have been either dried up or ran off. I called
Roland parts and they wanted $37 for a table spoonful of it. That
sounds like too expensive to me.
Anyone know if I can use some of the electronic greases? You know,
the ones I can find at the local Radio Shack? I know I should use a light
viscosity grease to avoid making the keys stick. The Roland parts guy
told me the grease they're using is the "flori" kind. I don't know if I
spelled
it correctly.
Any help would be most appreciated. Please email.
Andy
mailto: bik...@bellatlantic.net
mailto: bik...@aol.com
Bob Cardone
bik...@aol.com (Bikejog) wrote:
I work in the Electronics Industry and while $37 seems rather
exorbitant for some grease, this grease is probably a special formula
otherwise nobody would pay $37 for it. I would not take the chance
with an expensive keyboard by putting the wrong grease in it and
destroying it. Like putting some bargain basement oil in your car.
Penny wise and Pound foolish
Bob Cardone
BTW, where does this grease go, on the mechanical part of the key,
the contacts????
Mark W. Kunkel
I ran into a similar situation with my HP-1000; after 5 years of use
there was a lot of variability in the playing weights across the
keyboard and many keys made the crackling sound. The Roland service
manual lists two types of grease for the mechanism: a torque grease
('FLOIL') for the rotary damper at the key pivot and a machine grease
for the front key guides. Each grease was described by spec numbers,
but they were from a system that isn't used in the US and which I was
unable to translate. The brand name FLOIL also didn't help me find a
replacement.
I did some testing of the viscosity of several different
plastic-friendly greases, and ended up using Dow-Corning High Vacuum
Silicone Grease for the rotary damper and on the key guides I used a
grease sold for plastic parts in sewing machines. I got the Vacuum
Grease through an industrial supply house (W.W.Grainger), and the
sewing machine grease at the local Singer shop.
It has been 15 months now since I did the overhaul on the keyboard
and everything is still working smoothly. I found that I had to
COMPLETELY remove the old grease because it interacted with the new
stuff. That part of the job was about 5 evenings fun with Q-tips,
pipe cleaners, and cotton balls. Putting on the new grease and
equalizing the feel across the keyboard, by adding more grease to the
rotary damper or removing some, took two more evenings. While I had
the innards exposed I also replaced the felt strips that limit the key
travel up and down; all of the keys have to be removed in order to do
this.
If you don't already have one, I'd recommend getting the service notes
from Roland. The price per page is pretty steep, but there was some
info in there that made the whole job easier.
Noel C. Phares
Bikejog wrote in message
<199804300253...@ladder03.news.aol.com>...
>Hi,
> Some of the keys on my Roland A90-EX started to make a slight
>"crakling" sound from time to time.
Yikes! You couldn't have had it for very long for this to start happening!
I just got mine a few months back and I hear tell it was purported to be the
mother of all rock solid keyboards. This is too strange . . .
Bikejog
It was brand new. I received it three weeks ago. Roland
screwed-up at the factory. But no farm done. I used
Vascillin (per Roland's service suggestion) and all is well
now.
Andy
Bob Cardone
bik...@aol.com (Bikejog) wrote:
Where does this grease actually go in the keyboard, on the key pivots,
or is there an oil type damper. Could you describe it.
Bob Cardone
Bob Cardone
Most Crashes are caused by Pilot Error
(*)
************************
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Noble Airlines
Boston HUB
Commercial Captain
NBL2139 on Squawkbox
Bikejog
No, not on the pivots, but rather they go on the inside of the sides of the
front key caps. According to Roland tech support, there were two types
of grease used. Both of the brand Floir with different viscosity. The
heavier viscosity grease is used on the key pivots while the lighter one
is used on the side key caps. Roland wanted $37 for a spoonful, so I
called the local Roland service guy and said he use Petrolium Jelly for
that purpose all the time with good results.
I have received a very thorough email from a gentleman describing a
simular experience he through. He recommended two types of grease
he used. If anyone is interested, I could post his email here.
Oh no, the A90EX does not use oil type dampers. It use hammer action
as all of you already know. The "crackling" noise came from plastic parts
rubbing against each other due to lack of grease. Not a big deal, it was just
kinda annonying that's all. But all is well now. I love the A90EX. Action
and sound is very hard to beat!
Andy
==========
RHagenston
In article <199805120715...@ladder03.news.aol.com>, bik...@aol.com
(Bikejog) writes:
> I have received a very thorough email from a gentleman describing a
>simular experience he through. He recommended two types of grease
>he used. If anyone is interested, I could post his email here.
I'm interested in his experience and his grease. I have a few keys on that
type of keyboard that make a little clicking sound when they hit bottom, but
only if struck with considerable force. Otherwise, they are as quiet as the
rest of the keys. Thanks.
Richard
Bikejog
Here's an email I received from Mark W. Kundel "mku...@azcc.arizona.edu"
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