How to Repair RD-500 Keyboard Hammers - Other Roland Keyboards as Well

I have a wonderful, but old, RD-500 digital piano. For the last two years some of the keyboard hammers have broken. I had a professional shop repair it twice until he said "The hammers are very fragile...eventually you'll need to buy a new keyboard".

I did not like that answer, so I set about finding a way to replace all of the hammers. Turns out Roland US offers an 88 hammer replacement kit for $300. I took some initial advice from this video then started my repair. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwezvnqV6Z0

I'm sure I captured way too much detail for some of you, but I wanted to convey everything I learned in this process.

Hope you learn as much as I did!

http://www.hintoflight.com

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• repair
• RD-500
• broken
• keys
• hammer
• piano
• fix
• Roland
• keyboard
• cheap
• easy
• howto
• learn
• help
• tips
• tutorial
• tricks

[tonyevers]

Great video - I can see i need a new hammer - where can I buy these parts for the rd500?

[GregHint]

@tonyevers When I checked last, Full Compass had them for individual purchase, but if you want to replace all, call Roland US support. They may still have a package deal for all the key hammers.

[stephaneowen]

I have the same problom with my RD-500. Went to repair once (many keys were "down" ) but now I'm gonna do it myself. Gotta get in contact with Roland Benelux for some new hammers...

[GregHint]

@stephaneowen Good luck! I am having a lot of success in the 5 months since I made these repairs.

[JohnnyHands]

Greg, Thanks! I've got an RD-500 and am thinking about replacing all the keys. After you did the replacement of all the keys, did you notice that the keyboard action was a lot firmer (more like new?) My action has gotten mushy over the fifteen years I've had it, and if the action isn't improved it may not be worth it to me..

Also, if there is an action improvement, do you think it's due more to the replacement of keys or of hammer, Or a little of both? Or did you even replace any keys?

[GregHint]

@JohnnyHands Great questions. I did feel the action was better, but I'm not sure by a whole lot. Certainly more consistent. I also replaced all the keys at the RD-600 at our church, and they did feel it improved the playing a lot. Regarding the keys, I only replaced the hammers. The keys are plastic...didn't have much to do with action. If it helps, other sites mentioned selling with new hammers would sell better. But I love the sound of it so much for me it was a great choice. Good luck!

[Pikatroid42]

@IBMGreg If that's the case, then what's the award winning PA-4 hammer action?

[Pikatroid42]

Is the movement for the RD 600 similar to the RD 500's?

[Hambiente01]

Greg, You are my hero! It defintely is a product failure. Our RD-500 has been stored away for 15 years. The plastic around all hammers is already cracked and now that my kids are starting to play on it, almost every day another one is breaking.

For right now I repair them with electric tape and stripes from old credit cards on both sides as reinforcement (as you would bandage a broken leg). Up to now it works!

Rudolf from Germany Dic 26,2012

[reposado28]

dude, i have a little casio, but i think is burned out be cause it wont comes on, my question is, can it still be fixed, also i have a yamaha but i think is out of tune, is that possible, if it is how can i tune it back?

[gurufromgwandanaland]

Hi Greg, Thanks for the help. I have a Roland 1300e and several keys are very loud

which is apparently caused by dirt on the key contacts.

I will have a go at cleaning them after watching your video.

Bob