Help - dirty keyboard assembly minimoog

[Beluhan]

Hello everybody. I need help.
I recently bought a minimoog model d s# 2590.
Some of the former owners sprayed household cleaner over the whole area of the keyboard assembly.
The result of this stupid action is that the spring contacts do not make good contact, not only that it looks dirty and impossible to clean.
If someone knows where i can buy a clean keyboard assembly for the minimoog, please let me know.

Thank you all.

[vorlon42]

Ooh, ick! I take it the keys themselves have been cleaned off, but not the spring contacts.

I have a few keys on mine that need new springs, and one key contact needs a good cleaning. When I hit the key, it rises in pitch above the key, and then falls back down, as if I'm hitting the pitch-bend wheel up and snapping it back down to 0 pitchbend.

On a related note, does anyone know if there's a spray or solution out there that can be used for cleaning the rotary pots (the controls under the knobs)? Due to age and/or humidity, some of them are what I would call "dirty".

[mee3d]

Hi Beluhan

Firstly it is unlikely that you will be able to buy a NEW assembly . . unless you can find a junked mini.

Cleaning the keyboard assembly on minimoogs is something that every owner should learn to do as you may have to do it regularily . . alternatively you could find yourself a techie to do it.

it is possible to completely restore a dirty keybed . . all the keys can come off and be washed in a mild washing up detergent . . new rubber bushings can be replaced to align the notes and remove any clicking sounds as the keys are depressed. The contact bars can be cleaned with an Isopropanol or contact cleaner . . . stuborn dirt can be removed with a VERY light rubbing with some emery paper. Broken J wires can be replace and springs can be cleaned and oiled etc . . it all takes time but it is possible.

There are a few web resources that take you through it step by step with photos etc . . do a google for "cleaning a minimoog keyboard".

I use CAIG product to clean my mini . . . i have heard some people don't like to use De-Oxit or ProGold . . . I have found them to work for me and far better then WD40! (some people do use this product on switches!!!)

Mal

[MC]

His mini doesn't have J-wires, it has springs. My RAM Mini has springs. I don't know if any Mini had J-wires but I haven't seen as many as Mal

If the springs are deformed, they're toast. A dead or dying Polymoog is a good source of replacement springs. Handle with care, they deform easy.

Best way to clean them is a pipe cleaner dipped in denatured alcohol, brush the springs clean by twisting the pipe cleaner so the bristle get between the spring wires. Do not deform the springs.

I helped a friend with his Minimoog, turned out the former owner "cleaned" the spring contacts with automotive grease Went through a lot of pipe cleaners on that one...

Dirty keycaps can be replaced, there are lots of home organs from the 70s that used Pratt-Read keyboards whose keycaps can be scavenged. I had a dead ARP Omni that sat in a basement and rusted beyond salvaging, but the keycaps were clean. I gave the whole thing to a tech for parts.

WD40 is a water based lubricant, it is not a cleaner.

[mee3d]

Sorry MC

Yes mini's have springs . . . Prophet 5's have J wires (or at least mine did).

You can get new key tops from Archive sound . . I recently replaced the keys on two minis . . . with regards rubber bushings you should try the non-rubber wire and felt pad replacement system from Austrian "Virtual-Music" . . this system replaces the rubber bushing which corrode over time with felt pads and wire wrap spacers . . . takes a few hours to complete as you have to glue the felt pads on but once done the key action is very good and will not corrode. I have done 2 minis, my prophet and my PPG with this and it's fantastic.

If the springs do get pulled and bent it is possible to do a temporary fix . . I had an OSCar monosynth with quite a few kinked springs and was able to get her up and running by applying solder to the springs at the bend (then you can carefully bend the spring straight). . it's tricky as you then have to go through each note to make sure the keys all contact evenly but it can be done.

We all know what WD40 is . . . but you would be surprised the amount of people that I know who have at one time or another liberally sprayed WD40 into potentioneters and switches!!

mal