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Stiff knob on MS-20M Kit

Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 4:33 pm
by subVert
I just assembled my MS-20M this past weekend and I was thrilled with it until I tried to turn the MG/T.EXT knob under the low pass filter. I had to use a lot of force to turn it compared to all the other knobs. I took the nut off and put it back loosely, but it made no difference. Does anyone happen to know if the knobs will get looser with time?

I already sent an email to support, but I just wanted to see if anyone else has problem with one or more of the knobs being stiffer than the others.

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 8:57 am
by Jamie Munro
how tight did you go?

maybe slacken her off a little

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 12:54 pm
by subVert
Jamie Munro wrote:how tight did you go?

maybe slacken her off a little
I took the whole board out and even without a nut, that one knob is just really difficult to turn. hoping that maybe support will replace it so that I don't have to return the whole thing.

Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 5:30 am
by Mutiny in Jonestown
subVert wrote:
Jamie Munro wrote:how tight did you go?

maybe slacken her off a little
I took the whole board out and even without a nut, that one knob is just really difficult to turn. hoping that maybe support will replace it so that I don't have to return the whole thing.
Have you tried spraying the pot with electrical contact cleaner? Might loosen it up :wink:

Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 8:57 am
by Jamie Munro
yeah hopefully its an easy fix - be disappointing to have to return it for that

Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2015 1:31 pm
by subVert
Mutiny in Jonestown wrote:
subVert wrote:
Jamie Munro wrote:how tight did you go?

maybe slacken her off a little
I took the whole board out and even without a nut, that one knob is just really difficult to turn. hoping that maybe support will replace it so that I don't have to return the whole thing.
Have you tried spraying the pot with electrical contact cleaner? Might loosen it up :wink:
I really haven't tried anything other than hoping it will loosen up as I use it, but it is so stiff that it didn't take long for it to start hurting my fingers. Makes me wish I hadn't gone for a kit. If I have to take the entire thing apart and repack it to return it I will be very sad.

The last message that I got from Korg support just asked me if it 'affects performance', so I don't think they are going to do anything as long as it powers on and makes a sound.

I'm thinking about making a video to show how difficult it is to turn, but they could always accuse me of exaggerating.

Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2015 10:55 pm
by LivePsy
I'm not a fan of spraying pots and I suggest no one does it. Spraying is only for scratchy pots, not stiff ones. The lubrication dissolves some of the grease which is giving it a smooth rotation feel. You often end up with horrible feeling when turning. Far better to replace the pot with careful desoldering.

I have a faulty board which doesn't output the button presses. Its just not worth contacting Korg over.

B