2008-03-24 by Roy J. Tellason
On Sunday 23 March 2008 17:41, pigeonbreath wrote:
> Archive Sound promptly sent out key buffers for my benched Prophet 5,
> and I promptly put them in. Then I found out they have a top and
> bottom, so I get to do it again (won't take very long). Even without
> making sure they're all right-side up, the change in feel is
> phenomenal. And, I got to tweak the keys so they're all even, etc.
>
> Meanwhile, I find that someone has earlier butchered some of the
> J-wires. Specifically, some of the wires have been replaced with
> soldered-on replacements that look terrible and, in one case, the
> solder let go.
>
> What material is best for replacing the J-wires? And is there a
> recommended technique for attaching them so they're mechanically
> robust (lead-tin solder is *not* mechanically robust)?
>
> Once again, thank you all. Surprisingly, there seems to be nothing in
> the P5 repair manual regarding the keyboard. I guess techs of the era
> were just expected to know their way around Pratt-Read keyboards.
I can't speak to that instrument specifically, but there have been times when
I've replaced those in some instruments and a small dab of silicone rubber
stuff right where the end of the wire enters the board seems to help a bit
with longevity.
I've never known solder to have a problem, either, unless it wasn't done
right in the first place. The issue with those wasn't ever solder joints
breaking (that's how they were _all_ attached at the factory!) but the
flexing of the wire eventually breaking it. The dab of silicone seems to
spread the flexing out a bit over a length of the wire, rather than having
it all be at one point.
--
Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and
ablest -- form of life in this section of space, a critter that can
be killed but can't be tamed. --Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters"
-
Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James
M Dakin