Bottom "E" Clacking on NS3C

[EricBarker]

I'm just now noticing that the bottom note on my new used NS3C clacks pretty hard when I play it. It appears to be hitting the edge of the chassis. I've done service on quite a few FATAR beds before, so I figure this is probably something I'm capable of correcting if possible. However, I have noted problems with standalone "slab" keys like the high C on 88 beds, since they really have no other keys surrounding them to help anchor. Is this a common issue? Any suggestions as to how to fix it? The note still plays, but makes a loud "clack". It's not a note I play very often, though I could imagine if I'm playing eighth-note octaves in E, it might get quite annoying!

[Macsaint777]

Eric, I have encountered this issue on several Electro and Stage compact models. The screws are just a bit too tight in that end panel. I corrected this by loosening the screws closest to the key, and also adding a small divider between the screw and the wooden panel. That works very well. I've also seen this happen on the upper end of the register, and resolved it the same way.

[analogika]

Sometimes the front and back screws on the side panel are swapped by a tech. There's washers under the front screws also, AFAIK, to keep them that half-mm out to avoid clacking.

[Macsaint777]

Ah! Fixed it. I just loosened the screws a bit on the left-end board. When I did some servicing the other day, I noticed that only 2 screws on each end had lock washers. This is a used board and figured 2 were missing). I added a lock washer to all of them, as I've noticed that lock washers tend to extend the life of hole threads. Loosening the front-most screw on the left side immediately cleared up the "clack".

Thanks for the help!

[DJKeys]

Eric, I have encountered this issue on several Electro and Stage compact models. The screws are just a bit too tight in that end panel. I corrected this by loosening the screws closest to the key, and also adding a small divider between the screw and the wooden panel. That works very well. I've also seen this happen on the upper end of the register, and resolved it the same way.

This has been baffling me for months, I just put a thick washer on the screw and now it is tight with no CLACK! I have taken my unit apart multiple times and must have not noticed that some screws have washers and some dont-

Thank you!

-dj

[EricBarker]

That's awesome! Yay for teamwork!

Yeah, for me, just loosening the screw closest to me (not the 2 in the back), did the trick, but next time I open it up, I might throw a small spacer washer as you did. I feel like it's now just a little loose, and that will make it nice and tight. Mine is a first-run Compact, with the notorious ModWheel Plug design flaw. I opened it up last week and cut off the plug, soldered the wires to the board. Except... I'm not very confident with my work. I was in COVID lockdown at the time and had limited supplies: no heatshrink and my solder was GIANT and hard to apply accurately. In a few days I'm going to pop it open again with better materials. When I do that, I'll throw a spacer in the panelling.