NS Classic 88 drink over keys

[mmilian]

Hello,

on friday night, after the gig, when keeping instruments, some girl, with no bad intention went with a glass of an undetermined beverage to give some greetings to the pianist/singer and unfortunately dropped part of her glass content over the NS classic 88.

NS was already switched off.
Liquid was mostly over the keys and not on the commands.

Try to dry instantly with paper top of keys and in betwee the key as much as possible.
Not switched on from this moment and will not until tuesday to get everything dry BUT.
Drink seems to be heavily sugared, if can say that like that... and we were wondering if a quicker cleaning will avoid anything to be "glued".

Really disapointed and affraid to do anything... we live in Andorra, between Spain and France, no service repair of any kind.
NS 88 is out of waranty since a long time so I've seen fotos and explainations on how to open it and do some DIY repairs that I think I will be able to achieve with carfullness.

May I really make that cleaning by myself? Or where can I drive to let do that cleaning to a pro official or not service repair?
If it can be done, what do I have to do really? What do I have to pay attention?

Any advices are welcomed!
Many thanks in advance.

Marc

[mmilian]

There's all kinds of nasty stuff in drinks that isn't nice for electronics. Getting it dry is not enough, you have to get the nasty stuff off any contacts. From the sound of it, you may only have to worry about the keyboard contacts.
They probably look something like this, as it's a fatar keybed AFAIK. You just peel off the silicone rubber covers carefully and then clean the board(s).

key contacts

fatar_contact.jpg (135.67 KiB) Viewed 1963 times

There's a chemical cleaning solution which is intended for mobile phones, but will be also suitable for most modern circuit boards, like the keyboard contacts.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reviveaphone-Wa ... B008KOYVF8

Of course, many other people on this forum will probably quite correctly advise you to take it to an authorised service agent. That's good (the best) advice, but I offer this simply as an option so you can make your own choice.

[mmilian]

Thank you for this quick reply.
Hope I can buy this product as sometimes AMAZON or seller's don't ship to Andorra, but with this info I might be able to get the product or equivalent from an Andorran shop.
So I'll try to find information on how to "arrive" to the FATAR keybed and cleaning it.
Cheers,
Marc

[mmilian]

If you are careful, it shouldn't be too hard.
DISCLAIMER: I should say that my comments are general and relate to most keyboards - I do not own a Stage Classic, and I have never opened one up.
Once you remove the screws, the keybed has several push-fit connectors that you have to carefully unplug without damaging the contacts - don't just pull them by the wires. They only back go in one way round, but it's worth taking photos at each step and also make note of which screws go in which holes as you take them out

[mmilian]

Hi Marc,

sorry for the drink accident. But common accident as music and drinks are quite good complements...

As already suggested, cleaning the key contacts miught be in order. You can find a very detailed step by step description (for the EX, but should be virtually identical for the Classic) here created by a fellow member: Fixing dead keys / velocity issues on Nord Keyboards

You can try it yourself or a music tech pro, but if you don't have two left hands, should be feasible if you are patient (Did it twice and worked well).
But once the liquid is all evaporated, you could also try how it works first.
Good luck!

[mmilian]

...But common accident as music and drinks are quite good complements...

It's right as we almost play in bar/pubs and even if don't use to have drinks on stage, public are not so carefull...

Fixing dead keys / velocity issues on Nord Keyboards

Yes I had already seen and download it as a very good resource, and I will make also pics all along the process to get a visual memory of each step.

But once the liquid is all evaporated, you could also try how it works first.

So, no need to get inside quicly... I'll wait until tuesday, switch on, try every keys and functions and then if some weird behaviour is noticed begin the opening and cleaning?
72h/96h is enough?

[mmilian]

This is what I would do:
Do not switch it on,
straight away open the keyboard (there might be some guide/photos here in the forum?),
inspect where there are any marks of the spillage,
clean those with isopropil alcohol and a lint-free cloth.

Good luck and hope it all ends well. Please let us know.

[mmilian]

But once the liquid is all evaporated, you could also try how it works first.

So, no need to get inside quicly... I'll wait until tuesday, switch on, try every keys and functions and then if some weird behaviour is noticed begin the opening and cleaning?
72h/96h is enough?

Even if it is all dry, and the keyboard works ok, it still needs cleaning properly. Drinks contain sugar, salt and organic content that might encourage mould. Over time, these can corrode through the tiny metal tracks on the circuit boards so definitely clean it out - don't leave it there

[jazzystu]

I had a problem with mine having "lights issues" following it getting damp. I took it to bits and cleaned everything. It was straightforward. You'll need a bright light to work under.

Be very methodical about how you do things. Take screws out carefully and write a description of what they do. They are very similar, but not identical. It probably represents a time to give it a good clean anyway.

You should have no worries. I would potentially consider mixing water up with alcohol 60:40 so that you have a good chance of water dissolving nasties out that don't get taken up so well by alcohol alone. Then hit it with 100% alcohol to displace the water and then dry it very carefully. You could use an air jet, or warmth, or pull it out with a water absorbing agent in sealed environment (bag).

Be very careful and you will be fine.

[iaorana]

This is what I would do:
Do not switch it on,
straight away open the keyboard (there might be some guide/photos here in the forum?),
inspect where there are any marks of the spillage,
clean those with isopropil alcohol and a lint-free cloth.

+ 1.



The offending liquid could have entered the "rubber" cavity via the upper and lower "tunnels" of its edge. These are intended to let the cavity "breathe" each time you press and release the corresponding key. Unfortunately, impurities e.g. dust, salted air etc. can enter too .

In tropical Islands (e.g. in Tahiti where I live), it is necessary to clean the keybed once or twice a year, even if no vahine come too close to drink her Coke®