dm-fr
02-20-2008, 12:21 PM
Abstract : Thanks to EJR1 and ChesterNYC909, I got all the necessary information to perform a full keyboard cleaning and lubrication. So now I am pleased to share this experience. During this maintenance, I discovered more "dust" than foreseen and two hammers with burrs. I explain how I proceeded to repair. I ask also some question about the positions of the spring keys.
Long :
1. I bought an used CVP-55 several months ago. I like this kind of keyboard, because all the tunes are there, with real buttons and faders, you have just to play...piano, arranger and more through midi interfaces ; and it is cheap.
Even if it was working conveniently, I performed a first internal cleaning 2 days after the bought. At that point in time, I saw that a deeper cleaning would be necessary later on.
2. Taking the decision : After several months, as a key had became a little sticky, I though the time was arrived for the full cleaning. Moreover, and since the beginning, it was difficult to control the "velocity" in the area around A3 to F4.
3. Preparation : I bought the grease and oil as ChesterNYC909 described. Living in non english speaking country, the products references are a little bit different on the pack but have the same reference inside.
4. Dismounting : I proceeded as described by EJR1, excepted for the printed circuit that I left in place, just passing the springs behind that circuit. A good suggestion done by EJR1 is the use of a small knife to remove the springs. As the rubber is glued on some of the white keys, and I did not want to tear it out, so I dismounted all these keys together. Not really difficult, moving each piece slowly.
I discovered some chocolate and tapes on the edge of some keys that it was not possible to see before dismounting. That was one of the reason for the variable velocity.
Note: For this repair, the service manual was not useful at all.
Photos and descriptions from EJR1 are far better than the small picture of the service manual.
5. Cleaning : Full cleaning removing dust (and grease) has been done with cleaning paper.
6. Repair : During the cleaning, I discovered two hammers presented blurs at the level of the rubber contact (2nd contact) which also could explain the variable velocity. Two pictures showing these blurs are available at :
http://www.virginmediaphotos.co.uk/album/5004202
I just removed these blurs with a fine file.
7. Lubrication : This is the part which take the most of time (2 ~ 3 hours). Rather than put the lubricant at the external sides of the keys, I preferred when it is possible to put it inside the keys. This way, dust should be less attracted. I used a third of each product (grease and oil).
8. Re-assembling : I noted that it was possible to place the key springs in different positions (6 to 8) and by this way we get different levels of firmness. Is there any experiments here ?
9. Conclusion : just after the cleaning, I saw a clear difference, with softer touch, and mainly a regular velocity, particularly in low velocity. The counter part was to wash hands each 5 minutes of playing during the first week, despite regular wiping of the keyboard. It seems that some part of the oil was backing up when playing.
Now, 3 months have passed since this cleaning and lubrication. The keyboard is still very regular and I think that taking the right time to proceed, it can be done easily.
If it would be re-do, I would try first to use the oil on the rubber key guide which seems to be the part with the most of rubbing effort, then inspect all the faces of the keys and limit cleaning to the biggest cluster of dust. This way, it limits the amount of time for the best efficiency.
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Long :
1. I bought an used CVP-55 several months ago. I like this kind of keyboard, because all the tunes are there, with real buttons and faders, you have just to play...piano, arranger and more through midi interfaces ; and it is cheap.
Even if it was working conveniently, I performed a first internal cleaning 2 days after the bought. At that point in time, I saw that a deeper cleaning would be necessary later on.
2. Taking the decision : After several months, as a key had became a little sticky, I though the time was arrived for the full cleaning. Moreover, and since the beginning, it was difficult to control the "velocity" in the area around A3 to F4.
3. Preparation : I bought the grease and oil as ChesterNYC909 described. Living in non english speaking country, the products references are a little bit different on the pack but have the same reference inside.
4. Dismounting : I proceeded as described by EJR1, excepted for the printed circuit that I left in place, just passing the springs behind that circuit. A good suggestion done by EJR1 is the use of a small knife to remove the springs. As the rubber is glued on some of the white keys, and I did not want to tear it out, so I dismounted all these keys together. Not really difficult, moving each piece slowly.
I discovered some chocolate and tapes on the edge of some keys that it was not possible to see before dismounting. That was one of the reason for the variable velocity.
Note: For this repair, the service manual was not useful at all.
Photos and descriptions from EJR1 are far better than the small picture of the service manual.
5. Cleaning : Full cleaning removing dust (and grease) has been done with cleaning paper.
6. Repair : During the cleaning, I discovered two hammers presented blurs at the level of the rubber contact (2nd contact) which also could explain the variable velocity. Two pictures showing these blurs are available at :
http://www.virginmediaphotos.co.uk/album/5004202
I just removed these blurs with a fine file.
7. Lubrication : This is the part which take the most of time (2 ~ 3 hours). Rather than put the lubricant at the external sides of the keys, I preferred when it is possible to put it inside the keys. This way, dust should be less attracted. I used a third of each product (grease and oil).
8. Re-assembling : I noted that it was possible to place the key springs in different positions (6 to 8) and by this way we get different levels of firmness. Is there any experiments here ?
9. Conclusion : just after the cleaning, I saw a clear difference, with softer touch, and mainly a regular velocity, particularly in low velocity. The counter part was to wash hands each 5 minutes of playing during the first week, despite regular wiping of the keyboard. It seems that some part of the oil was backing up when playing.
Now, 3 months have passed since this cleaning and lubrication. The keyboard is still very regular and I think that taking the right time to proceed, it can be done easily.
If it would be re-do, I would try first to use the oil on the rubber key guide which seems to be the part with the most of rubbing effort, then inspect all the faces of the keys and limit cleaning to the biggest cluster of dust. This way, it limits the amount of time for the best efficiency.
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