I want to clean the volume pot which is scratchy before I sell it next month.

I took out all of the screws on the bottom, but the darn thing still doesn't open up.

I should say all the screws except there are additional screws that hold in two square black plates or doors - one on the left side, and one on the right side.

Do I need to remove those doors too?

Opener beware!!.....is all I have to say...;-)

Just a tip...usually a scratchy pot (especially those of modern manufacture) is only fixed by replacing it.

These days the old trick of blowing them with compressed air does not work much at all....The carbon tracks that are inside the pot are so thin nowadays, that cleaning is more than likely not going to fix it...

The upside is that pots, even PCB mounted ones are pretty easy to replace, just make sure you get the correct impedance on a replacement.

Dennis

I agréé Dennis.......let à pro techie fix it

Beaky,

Remember that old song "Walk Away Renee" leave it alone,
it will bite you.... what it was made they will have bought in a load of pots and there won't be any more around that will fit,unless you can find a KB breakers yard.

Not true Tony - pots are standard manufacture and are widely available and in all the various mounting configs used by pretty much all manufacturers. There is nothing proprietary about them at all.

Beakybird – Don’t

I opened up three different Technics keyboards, no problem.
I opened up a Psr 3000, it ended up in a repair shop.

John C.

OK, I get the message. I thought that since I did brain surgery on myself I could do this, but I was wrong.

Yeah, I have a book about do-it-yourself brain surgery. It's called
"Suture Self."

Larry,

It shouldn't really be much of a problem. Just take it slow and don't force anything. I was a tech for 10 years. If the pot isn't sealed try a little WD40 in it. Spray it and work it back and forth. If it is sealed bend the little tabs back a little to create a crack in which you can get a little WD40 in there. Squeeze the tabs back and it should be good to go. If you need to replace the pot go to Radio Shaft get some solder wick to unsolder it. Get the right resistance pot and solder the new one in. I doubt you will need to replace it. Good luck.

Tom

Larry,

I've opened the PSR-740, 2000, 3000 and S900 and never had a problem. I have NOT opened an S-910 yet, but I wouldn't think it would be difficult. However, if you don't have any electronic experience, I wouldn't recommend undertaking this task - too many delicate parts.

Good Luck,

Gary

Sorry Tom, I have to disagree a little.

It is not recommended to put ANY solvent based products or oils (and WD40 is essentially Kerosene) into electronic components..

Compressed air is the only method (safe) to use...and one can buy these at any electronics store in handy aerosol packs...Also do not use normal compressed air as this contains quite a deal of moisture...

Electronics grade is totally dry air...

Also your post indicates it is far easier than it really is...care needs to be take not to overheat other components and tracks in the removal, and replacement..

Sure, for you or I it is "electronics 101", but for folks not used to this type of circuitry and fine soldering, it can be a test.

Also you forgot to mention he must use rosin core solder, not acid..just another small heads up.

No offence meant, and I am not trying to start an argument and I am SURE you do know your stuff, I just wanted to mention this.

Dennis

Maybe things have changed (in the end they always do), but many of us former techi types from an earlier lifetime used to use isopropol alcohol for cleaning contacts.

EDIT: and I agree - don't try soldering on your keyboard if you have no prior experience.

Yes, another good product and still very much in use, but these days the pots tend to be the "no user-serviceable parts" variety!!

Beaky,

Send it to Miden, he'll repair it... I am not going to argue with you Miden, I have only been in electronic manufacturing for the last 40 years, what would I know about the subject Beaky don't no what all the fuss is about you, you've not got to the pot yet, tells us what it looks like when you get to it, 2013 no doubt, it will end up in the trash can, I'll be bound, something are not meant to come apart easily, you will find little plastic clips that you didn't know were there will break off, Doh these things are not real engineering jobs, now if you had bought a G70 there is a different animal, you need power tools to take that apart, build like a tank. you do what you have to do Beaky but you have been warned.

Like a plumber opening up someones chest cavity Gary, are you any good a stitching up, good advice Gary

ROTFLMAO - whatever, tosser!!

Dennis,

Got the Tosser bit, but the abbreviations need a bit of help??


Tony

Must admit it doesn't take long for you to get back to your old self, great pity Dennis with so much knowledge you have to share, you certainly don't have any trouble expressing yourself either.

"Tosser"?

Not a word we Canadians are familiar with, Tony...what does it mean?

Ian

Ian,

If I told you what it means I would have to kill you, it's top secret, 007.5

Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off.

What does "tosser" mean?

Don,

Yupe got it off tinternet, you could abrv anything...
Would not be a pretty sight do you think, Rolling on the floor laughing his ass off.

Ah ha! We have anudder word for that here...but it is way too naughty to post.

Neither are terms of endearment, in any case.

Ian

Hell Diki,

Now you've done it, the only thing Dennis omitted which would then be and hanging offence on SZ was, Old Tosser

I stand by my recommendation Miden a little WD40 in the pot will clean it. I've used it for this for years with no problem. I believe the solvent in WD40 is fish oil based, regardless it works well. Air will just move the dust around. You don't spray it into the keyboard. You use the red tube and just spray a little directly into the pot. And yes you need to use resin core solder.

Just Beat It...


It's a Michael Jackson song.

No problem Tom...different strokes etc..

I thought I would post this little excerpt though just to clarify:

WD-40's formula is a trade secret. The product is not patented, to avoid completely disclosing its ingredients.

WD-40's main ingredients, according to U.S. Material Safety Data Sheet information, are:
51% Stoddard solvent (essentially White Spirit)
25% liquefied petroleum gas (presumably as a propellant; carbon dioxide is now used instead to reduce WD-40's considerable flammability)
15+% mineral oil (light lubricating oil)
10-% inert ingredients
The German version of the mandatory EU safety sheet lists the following safety-relevant ingredients:
60–80% heavy naphtha (petroleum product), hydrogen treated
1–5% carbon dioxide

Dennis