How to repair faders on a vintage synthesizer

[@helifynoe9930]

I recently repaired the 22 faders on my 1976 PE-2217 Soundcraftsmen equalizer/amplifier. They were as stiff as ever, and some were not working at all. So I used Deoxit 5 to fix the contacts, and then use a silicon lubricant to break them free. Now you can move them with what feels like no resistance at all. These are a rare kind of faders that are composed of two halves of plastic held together with two metal clips. You have to lubricate them internally and externally. It was not easy, but now they are better than new.

[@HazeAnderson]

The trick to getting better results with a solder pump is to secure the PCB in a vice. The pumping action pushes the board away, nullifying the sucking action -- so keep that board steady.

[@CandyAppleBlue]

Excellent! I love how you are not afraid to jump in there and get the job done! Bravo!

[@SISKworks]

Candy Apple Blue Thank you. It already wasn’t working and got it for free so I wasn’t too scared. Haha.

[@blakecasimir]

Perhaps some isopropyl alcohol would also help? It's probably worth mentioning to mark Pin 1 immediately after extracting any part from a PCB! Anyway, thank you for this clear, concise overview of fader repair.

[@DJmallninja]

great video! You should post a follow up video on how I can mentally prepare for a weekend of repairing all TWENTY faders on a neglected Akai AX60 :(

[@HimanshuGuptaSinger]

I was about to throw my Roland sound card but thanks to your video.. just cleaned the slider and it works as new..thanks a ton :)

[@Paul-Mac]

Thanks! I'll give it a try! I have replaced tact switches; figured they would be too small to feasibly try to fix...

[@paul6925]

Thanks this is exactly what I need to try on my MC-202. The LFO delay slider doesn't do anything anymore.

[@marvinmitt4575]

Thanks for great video. You might want to use isopropyl alcohol first (as you use Deoxit D100 which is without cleaning agent as I understand) and Deoxit FaderLube F100 after for lubing the faders for smooth action and less friction and wear on the carbon pads.

[@SISKworks]

@@marvinmitt4575 yes I believe you are correct. Good info. Thanks for commenting.

[@waynemasters8673]

​@@SISKworks A comment some other video says don't touch faders with iso. Also, What about HB pencil fore lubricant?

[@relativenormality]

thanks - the day i have to do this your video will give me confidence!

[@relativenormality]

i did it for the 2 faders on the pitch bend board on the Juno-60. Plucking up the courage to do for all of the main faders now.

[@kemek3000]

Very useful, thank you!

[@JK-pv6tu]

Spring went in backwards. There is a little plastic standoff on the body and a hole in the spring that fits over that.

[@JariSuominen]

Springs on these faders should be installed backwards. Earlier in the video when the faders in being ripped apart you see that they are like that originally. That confused me when I first time cleaned faders like that. I can have built them back both ways and can confirm they work better 'wrong' way around, which is how on this video they are put back together. There should be vaseline between plastic washer and fader body and that produces a problem if the spring would be install 'right' way. I guess they figured out the same thing in the factory pretty early on and started to build them this way. Your observation off the standoff is correct, originally obviously they thought the spring should be installed the other way.

[@simpson6700]

have you considered putting dust covers on these faders? i got some vintage faders for a project of mine and i'm thinking of what material to use to protect them.

[@michaeltg2922]

Very cool and very helpful. Thanks

[@drabara]

Ad some non melting grease in the top slider part, and it wil run smooth....

[@stretta]

Yeah, cleaning the fader also removes the lubricant. You can always tell when someone cleans a pot without lubing it afterwards. Feels terrible and pots become 'scratchy' and unusable in short order.

[@erashio6702]

Hi I had similar issue but decided to change the fader for new one put it back in but the sound comes on even with the slider being in the down position????? Any advise on what is going on here please,thanks.

[@reddenstudio]

Great vid, thx! Please create a video for repairing a Roland encoder component next. :)

[@SISKworks]

reddenstudio Thanks for the suggestion but currently I don't have any gear with a faulty encoder. If I come across one that I'm able to fix I will definitely make a video of it though.

[@coyotesynth]

really helpful. I have the same issue on my SH1, with Env2 sliders, but they have already been repaired, with no result. I need to change them. Do you know which slider I could by? Any reference? Best regards.

[@SISKworks]

Did you open up the fader and clean the internal contact or just spray the cleaner into the slot with out completely disassembling the fader? The reason I ask is because I first tried just spraying the cleaner into the slot and it really didn't do much. I found it was absolutely necessary to do the much harder option and desolder and disassemble in order to get the fader to function again. Unfortunately I don't know how or where to source any replacement parts but I can tell you that the service manual for the SH-1 shows "LFE9R-C16 500KA" for the Env-2 Attack and "LFE9R-C16 1MA" for the Env-2 Release. Hope that helps. If you do by chance find a source for replacement parts please let me know.

[@coyotesynth]

Many thanks, Mike. I will check if I find some new sliders. If not, I will do what you recommend.

[@new-knowledge8040]

What is recommended for the slide lubing? The 22 sliders on my Soundcraftmen PE2217 Equalizer all work OK other than some are very stiff.

[@seriksson9721]

DeoxIT fader.

[@djmaytag303]

Any insight on how to fix a fader on an SH-1 that has an open circuit? Trying to fix VR606 (the HPF slider), which has an open circuit on one side of the tracks, I believe on the part where pin 2 needs to connect to ground.

[@SISKworks]

DJMaytag have you already removed and opened the fader like I show? I would first open and clean then test. But if you have already done that I don’t really know what else to suggest. Sorry, wish I was more help.

[@djmaytag303]

@@SISKworks Yes, I've opened it and cleaned it. There's definitely an open circuit (seemingly worn through, but not visibly) at the top of the track closest to pin 1 of the fader. That means nothing it connected to the pot in the circuit, so it behaves the same with the pot completely removed from the circuit.

[@ibalberto22]

Hi i need a little help....my slider is from -20db down at +10db top with zero db near the top but not the top...2/3 range...i have 3 broken and i d'nt know if are right for me to buy....see on ebay or amazon...the lengh is 75 mm ...mono and stereo for my old vintage mixer...how buy right ??

[@SISKworks]

Sorry but I can’t help you. There are just too many variables and no way for me to know the correct part. Good luck.

[@agsmith001]

great video thanks!

[@doctordoctor6515]

Would it do any harm to clean the faders with 99.9 % isopropanol, before using the fader detoxit? I now the video is quite old but maybe I get a response ;)

[@SISKworks]

No I don’t think that will harm it as long as you use something like fader spray after. The alcohol is fine for cleaning but it just doesn’t lube the parts and might change how smoothly the fader moves. The F5 fader spray cleans and lubes.

[@GearGuy]

Just curious, what exactly is the problem with using contact cleaner on faders, pots, or encoders? I mean it is just not recommended for vintage equipment or not for both new and old equipment? I have used it (with success) on various faders, pots and encoders....but I am concerned that there may be long term affects that I am unaware of... I know people swear by Deoxit, but I would really love to know what makes it so much better since the cost is extraordinarily high...I mean contact cleaner runs as little $5 for a 12 ounce can versus $24 for 2 ounces of Deoxit. Thanks!

[@SISKworks]

From what I've read the older faders have carbon tracks that could be somewhat washed off with cheap contact cleaner. I've used the cheap stuff with newer stuff with success too but I wouldn't risk it with vintage gear. I also feel that contact cleaner changer the feel of the movement of knob or fader while the expensive Deoxit adds lubricant which keeps a smooth feel. store.caig.com/s.nl/ctype.KB/it.I/id.1809/KB.215/.f

[@jackstargazer5976]

Thanks!

[@housemachine509]

So helpful!! Boom

[@russliquid4858]

eliminate the middle man and just get some rosin when heating up for removal… instead of adding more ROSIN-core solder.

[@SISKworks]

Well at least you are super positive in both of your comments. Oh wait….LMAO. Thanks for watching and comment anyway.

[@russliquid4858]

@@SISKworks your welcome 🤗 just trying to make the Internet a safer place… lol

[@rickshinholt9847]

Why do you not first try to use Detox 5. You do not have to the remove the PCB board out you can spray the in the faders while still in together. Yes I have had to take a few faders apart but.... If i do not have to take the unit apart why risk the damage to the unit. I spray with Detox 5 and if that does not do then I take it apart. BTW I do this for a living. I suggest using spray Detox 5 a few time a year just to keep everything clean. DETOX 5 will not cause any electrical problems. I do not use Detox 100 because it may damage the boards. only use Detox 100 spairingly