Kork Ex-800, Buttons can be rebuilt!! Yay! (EX only not Poly Sorry!)
2007-01-05 by Erik Hines
Just some info for EX owners: put down your solder guns, The buttons on this puppy can be refurbished easily! With the help I got from you guys on button replacement, I went in for 'surgery'. After removing the top board, and closely looking at the buttons, I noticed they are a simple 5 part assembly that can be taken apart and cleaned! My buttons are working like new again (and no pesky solder burns)!! Once you remove the top board and remove the 2 cables, look closely at the buttons underside. There are 2 black 'clips' that attach the button face to the actual switch. Carefully and slightly wedge a small flathead screwdriver at the bottom corner edge of the clips to release it from the tab and remove the button face. Next, you want to carefully use a pair of small tech pliers to 'pinch' close the white botton shaft that is held to the switch by two small tabs at the top and bottom of the switch (be careful here, you can easily lose the internal contact inside the switch, I recommend working on a clean table or in a clean room) Once that is removed, you should see the copper side of the internal contact, I had to tip the board upside down to remove the contact, put in a safe place.. Next, get some alcohol, and about 10 q-tips. Roll the q-tip between your figers so that it will fit inside the hole in the switch where the contact was, dip in alcohol and insert into the hole, rotating the q-tip to remove debris. Next, use the other end of the q-tip (and alcohol) to clean BOTH sides of the internal contact you removed, clean well, as this is the part with the most debris. Replace the contact into the hole (copper side up), replace the white button shaft (tabs top and bottom) and finnaly the button face..Voila!! A brand new (refurbished) button... Do the buttons one at a time, or else your asking for trouble losing the contacts..Should takE about AN HOUR TO DO ALL 15!!