PolySix Battery Leak repair

torontobob · Post by **torontobob** » Tue Jun 22, 2021 11:56 pm

Originally posted in New Members Section, but is probably more appropriate here.

Twenty years ago I picked up a PolySix for $25 at a garage sale. Yes - it has the battery leak issue. And now I'm going to tackle it.

Around then I happened on http://www.oldcrows.net/~oldcrow/synth/ ... pair3.html

Back then he offered a swap service whereby he would swap a repaired board for a damaged one for $100. But no reply these days ... So, DIY is the option here (following his instructions.)

Doubting my abilities to repair the board myself I'm wondering about the KiwiSix replacement: http://kiwitechnics.com/kiwisix.htm

And this solution https://synthronics.de/klm-368-replacement-board/

And maybe there are other options.

Any advice/experience out there to help me take the 1st step?

Thanks!

nickle15 · Post by **nickle15** » Thu Aug 26, 2021 8:58 pm

Sorry I hadn't seen this post earlier. Where are you at in the process now? I'm in the same boat with a Polysix I bought as basically a box of parts. Interested to hear about your progress...

torontobob · Post by **torontobob** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 12:12 am

Hi Nickle15! Thanks for the reply!

I'm not a lot further ahead - winter is when I do my 'tinkering'. But it sounds like I'm in better shape than you are. My PolySix is complete - it just has the 'fried' main board from the battery leak. And the front corners of the case are pretty chewed-up. Crappy fibre-board in there - so I' also on a woodworking site where I hope to score some materials/help making a new case from walnut or something.

Anyway, the Old-Crow info has me ready to go - and there's a great electronics-supply outfit here in Toronto where I can get what I need. (https://shop.sayal.com/)

Anyway - I'm nervous about this. Last year I finished restoring a chopped Hammond B3. Years ago I was lucky to have all the lower sections rebuilt by a master woodworker - sadly passed now. All that sit for a LONG time but with Covid I finally did the 200-or-so solder connections to get the beast roaring again. But - that was all point-to-point wiring. The PolySix fix is all PCB - which I've never attempted before.

So - repairing PCB traces with 30 awg wire, etc. - I will probably now add blindness to the cancer from all the soldering I did last year!

I'll update here when I get rolling on this. Please do the same!

Bob

nickle15 · Post by **nickle15** » Fri Aug 27, 2021 1:51 am

Thank you for the follow up!

I've been gathering the needed parts to be able to assemble the keyboard, which we finally did last night. I bought a walnut case online because mine didn't include a case. So now the externals are pretty much there.

We found out that the transformer is bad, so right off the bat we can't check anything else. A custom transformer is being built because I can't find a suitable stock replacement. Once we get that we'll be able to start testing further. I'm strongly considering the Kiwisix replacement board and possibly the power upgrade as well, but time will tell. I've spent enough at this point that I can't really turn back!

We also recently completed a cleaning and repair of a miniKorg 700 for a guy in our area. A switch broke (which was severely bent when we got it) and we just can't seem to find a replacement. I happened to buy a Korg Poly Ensemble P recently and we think one of the switches off of there will work on the mini. So I think that's the plan - then we'll have to find one for the Poly Ensemble to replace it.

Anyway, that's a lot of rambling but I'll be sure to keep you posted as we go along!

jeremykeys · Post by **jeremykeys** » Fri Feb 03, 2023 12:35 am

I just found this thread now but in here in Toronto, we have a vintage synth repair company called "Synths When". I'm planning on taking my old Polysix there. They told me they know how to fix them, last I heard, which was about a year ago.
Hope this helps somebody.

Cheer to old Polysixes!

torontobob · Post by **torontobob** » Fri Feb 03, 2023 1:36 am

Synths When - I love the name!

Thanks for this - I may hand this over to pros at some point. As it is I've clipped off components that mount in bad traces and have sucked out the bits left behind. Scraping up the toasted traces is not easy by any stretch. But I'm wondering if that's really necessary since new connections will be mad on the bottom of the board with #30 wire. If I ever get to it ...

There is also a couple of drop-in replacement boards out there, like the KiwiSix (https://kiwitechnics.com/kiwisix.htm) Expensive maybe, but you're done when it's in.

nickle15 · Post by **nickle15** » Fri Feb 03, 2023 3:29 am

Hi guys. Sorry I failed to keep this thread updated. We finally put the finishing touches on the Polysix in November. It was a long process for sure, but very rewarding. Here it is:
https://youtu.be/xWxbIO4tK4Q

jeremykeys · Post by **jeremykeys** » Sat Feb 04, 2023 12:29 am

No worries at all. I just stumbled upon it and decided to throw in my own 2 cents worth. Hope I could help. I have a couple of old synths that need a lot of TLC. My Polysix and my MiniKorg.