OASYS Service from 2011

Akos Janca · Post by **Akos Janca** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 11:58 am

Please share your experiences, advices regarding maintenance, repairment, spare parts for OASYS from 2011. Let's focus on this important issue to help the current owners to keep their instruments alive as long as possible. No trolling please. Thank you. (Please Sharp, if you find it a good idea, make this a sticky topic.)

cello · Post by **cello** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:20 pm

Great idea Akos - support it 100%

I have two things re this topic.

1. I contact Korg UK re repair as one of the buttons no longer works (increment value controller - no issue, just use screen or jog-wheel). Parts seem to be still available as Korg UK quoted me a price to repai (basically was £50 shipping, £60 for an hours work, plus the spare part cost plus VAT at 20%). Am nervous about all the knocks my O would get in transit so think I'll just live it for now but I know it will need to get sorted one day.

2. Battery - I want to change the battery as this is an obvious thing that is going to 'die'.

I know you have great articles on your website regarding changing battery (and swtiches), but I don't have the skills you have so don't really want to do something I might regret later! How straight forward is it do sapw out the battery and which battery should be used?

MartinHines · Post by **MartinHines** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:32 pm

cello wrote:2. Battery - I want to change the battery as this is an obvious thing that is going to 'die'.

I know you have great articles on your website regarding changing battery (and swtiches), but I don't have the skills you have so don't really want to do something I might regret later! How straight forward is it do sapw out the battery and which battery should be used?

Replacing the Calendar battery is a user-performable procedure (similar to adding memory or installing the EXB-DI option) so it is covered in the Parameter Guide.

Look in the OASYS Parameter Guide, Appendix Section under "Option Boards/Memory/Calendar Battery", pages 1035-1036 (general information) and page 1040 (the actual procedure).

Page 1036 states

Calendar battery
This battery maintains the date and time that are recorded when data is saved. Use a CR2032 type battery.

CR2032 batteries that can be used in the OASYS
• CR2032 batteries manufactured by Maxell, Sony or Panasonic.

cello · Post by **cello** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 1:04 pm

Thanks Martin - didn't register with me this was user installable; seem to remember being told it was a solder job

Just FYI, my copy of the parameter guide is maybe an earlier edition than yours and the battery procedure starts on page number 943

Kontrol49 · Post by **Kontrol49** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 1:52 pm

I would have thought replacing a worn out button wouldn't be too difficult inside the Oasys,first off its far easier to access the internals of the oasys since the top panel lifts,simply unscrew a few screws from the side panel.and its only a case of removing a few screws on the various PCBS,and ribbon cables,The Oasys seems to be one of the few Korg workstations that doesn't have the need to dismantle pretty much most of the insides to get to the Buttons or PCBS,So long as spare parts are availible I'd be happy to attempt a repair to the internals of my Oasys,the way I see it,these synths are built by workers on a production line so its just a case of stripping them in a logical manner and rebuilding in the reverse order.

I've repaired many parts in worn out or broken synths including backlights and PCBS keys etc in a variety of Korg synths over the years,most of which are easy to repair so long as you keep a logical method to dismantling and keep everything seperate to where they were taken from.(yes we've all had one of those moments..."s**t wheres this screw come from" after putting it all back together)

As for battery changing,most new devices use Lithium coin cells,which are simply just clipped in place,should be no soldering involved whatsoever simply prize the old one out and fit new one,theres usually some timeconsuming dismantling to get to them but most manufacturers tend to put them in a easy to get to section of the PCBs,Korg designed the Triton Extreme well for this in that you only have to remove the Moss board cover to access the backup battery,this means you don't have to take the whole backpanel off like most synths.

Replacing the Backup battery in the Oasys should be no more difficult to get to than replacing the RAM yourself.

Trinity2112 · Post by **Trinity2112** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 6:24 pm

I repaired the joystick several months ago after it began sticking. I used a trick found on Youtube that uses a common metal ring to reinforce the part that is subject to premature wear on some units. It should be noted that the joystick housing on a Oasys 88 is fairly simple to remove. However, removing the joystick housing on a Oasys 76 is much more difficult as it actually built into to the keybed frame and therefore the frame needs to be either partially or completely removed from the unit...depending on how skilled you are. I've had no problems with the joystick since.

When I got the Oasys in July I noticed the Value Up button was sticking a bit. This got worse very quickly and I thought I'd wind up having to follow Akos's procedure to replace it. Before I ventured down that road I applied a tiny bit of spark plug grease to the switch and it's working great. Did the same recently for the Program button. I'm sure they'll have to be replaced eventually, but for now....one less thing to do.

hermanmusic · Post by **hermanmusic** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 11:21 pm

When I got the Oasys in July I noticed the Value Up button was sticking a bit. This got worse very quickly and I thought I'd wind up having to follow Akos's procedure to replace it. Before I ventured down that road I applied a tiny bit of spark plug grease to the switch and it's working great. Did the same recently for the Program button. I'm sure they'll have to be replaced eventually, but for now....one less thing to do.

This sounds promising. The 3 button on my number pad does not respond well (hasn't for some time). It requires more pressure than any of the other buttons or must be pressed repeatedly.

Could you tell me where and how you applied the spark plug grease to the switch? And if you will be so kind to pardon my ignorance, what exactly is spark plug grease? Can you recommend a brand?

THANKS!
David -

Trinity2112 · Post by **Trinity2112** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:02 am

Any sort of silicone grease for electrical connectors will do. I used a toothpick to apply the grease very lightly around the base of the button where it passes into the housing. See arrows in pic. Once I powered the Oasys back up I "worked" the grease into the switch by using my fingernail to push down on the top edge of the button until it clicked. I alternated between this and pushing down as you normally would.

hermanmusic · Post by **hermanmusic** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:07 am

Any sort of silicone grease for electrical connectors will do. I used a toothpick to apply the grease very lightly around the base of the button where it passes into the housing. See arrows in pic. Once I powered the Oasys back up I "worked" the grease into the switch by using my fingernail to push down on the top edge of the button until it clicked. I alternated between this and pushing down as you normally would.

Thank you. So this will entail lifting the top of the Oasys and coming at the switch from the bottom?

Trinity2112 · Post by **Trinity2112** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:40 am

No. You have to remove the circuit board that contains the faulty button.

danatkorg · Post by **danatkorg** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 8:39 am

cello wrote:Thanks Martin - didn't register with me this was user installable; seem to remember being told it was a solder job

Just FYI, my copy of the parameter guide is maybe an earlier edition than yours and the battery procedure starts on page number 943

In that case, I'd recommend downloading the latest version of the manuals from korguser.net!

Best regards,

Dan

cello · Post by **cello** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 9:28 am

danatkorg wrote:
cello wrote:Thanks Martin - didn't register with me this was user installable; seem to remember being told it was a solder job

Just FYI, my copy of the parameter guide is maybe an earlier edition than yours and the battery procedure starts on page number 943
In that case, I'd recommend downloading the latest version of the manuals from korguser.net!

Best regards,

Dan

Thanks Dan - was the first thing I did once I realised the difference!

hermanmusic · Post by **hermanmusic** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 12:31 pm

No. You have to remove the circuit board that contains the faulty button.

Thank you. I'm excited at the prospect of fixing the button. It will be awesome to have it work as intended. Thanks again! David -

TonyGen · Post by **TonyGen** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 2:07 pm

Trinity2112 wrote:Any sort of silicone grease for electrical connectors will do. I used a toothpick to apply the grease very lightly around the base of the button where it passes into the housing. See arrows in pic. Once I powered the Oasys back up I "worked" the grease into the switch by using my fingernail to push down on the top edge of the button until it clicked. I alternated between this and pushing down as you normally would.

The Oasys button switches are a disgrace in my opinion. I replaced 7 last year and another 3 need now replacing although I can get by if I press hard enough. No wonder UK buyers only get a one year warranty.

To be fair they are cheap enough to buy, but I need a Synth Tech do the work so it's 55 GBP labour plus parts.

If I had known Korg were going to bring out a cheaper Oasys in disguise I might have suggested they use the same buttons Yamaha used on my SY77 and SY99 - both over 20 years old and button switches working fine.

And like all Oasys users, no matter how many times I press the "function" button nothing happens......

Trinity2112 · Post by **Trinity2112** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 5:31 pm

TonyGen wrote:And like all Oasys users, no matter how many times I press the "function" button nothing happens......

I'm afraid there's just no fixing that button. I've lubed it, re-wired it, cursed it, talked dirty to it, bought it flowers, cooked it dinner and promised I'd NEVER leave it for a new Oasys...errr....Kronos...Kroasys.....whatever. It's nothing but a worthless lump. And it had so much potential. Breaks my heart.