"Clacky" keys on SX900/700: Please send me your Serial numbers!

[Aquilauno]

Hi Computec1349,
Enildo he is right, the problem must be solved under warranty ... and Yamaha must honor its customers. To me, for the blockage of the SX900 they said that I had to take it to the service center for repair (after 22 days from the purchase that answer is not acceptable ...) Especially when, with the release of firmware 1.05 Yamaha confirmed and admitted the existence of the problem.

As for the topic of the post, I am interested, why if this problem should happen to me, now I know what I have to do ... I also like to understand and tinker.

Last year I solved a problem without having to resort to assistance on a Samsung smart TV (no longer under warranty), modem had stopped working, assistance had said that a technician was needed and € 80 for replacing the broken modem.

The modem, was not broken .. There Was a wrong setting in the hidden menu of the TV ( Why? ... is a mystery, but I think, about it, an wrong of the Tv autoconfiguration), of course you need, to know, where to get your hands ... but the Web is a great help.

PS For Enildo: ...look your PM...

[EileenL]

The update to 1.05 was nothing to do with noisy keys. There seems to be a problem that not enough grease was used on some keyboards. If you get in touch with your shop or Yamaha they will arrange to have it put right for you. Unfortunately these things do happen with a lot of things we buy today and with Yamaha they are put right quickly which is nice to know.

[Aquilauno]

Hi Eileen,
Sorry, I thought, my post had been well translated by Google ...

I was referring to the problem of freezed the SX with the favorites, solved with 1.05. Yamaha Customer Support initially denied any intervention other than  repair. Today we know that the problem was real and resolvable with an update. Did Yamaha make a good impression? And everyone who replied me that, more probably, the motherboard had broked? nobody shared my opinion about the operating system bug ... yet this was.

Same thing for the grease and the noisy SX keys reported by several users. Telling a customer that the problem doesn't exist, when the problem exists and has been proven, is not a good commercial policy, not for a giant like Yamaha.

The service centers should receive directives from the parent company, to protect customers and not to deny to the problem that exists instead.
The intervention in this case, noisy key after a few months, must be done without delay and under warranty.

Have you read that Enildo has been told that the noise of the keys does not deserve the assistance and warranty?
Enildo's requests are right

Here in Brazil I'm fighting with yamaha to repair my keyboard under warranty. Fortunately we have the consumer protection agencies that I will appeal to. I will want an indemnity for moral damages due to the denial of the repair, which is the obligation of the yamaha, within the warranty period.
I am not going to open my keyboard to do the repair myself, because it will void the warranty if it gives another defect.

Enildo

Pietro

[EileenL]

Yes this is very bad when people are told the wrong things. As far as I know all Yamaha Dealers and service department personnel are well instructed on all new products but we all know that for a lot of people it is easier for them to ignore things as it makes life easier. We are very lucky here in the UK as we have service second to none on our keyboards. The technical staff could not be more helpful if you have a problem and will go out of there way to help you. Yes there is a problem with the greases used on some  SX keyboards and if you have a problem in UK the keyboard is picked up and put right with no fuss.

[Aquilauno]

I have the impression that some of the assistance centers in some countries believe that it is more profitable to repair an item that is out of warranty than to give assistance to those under warranty, where the economic return is certainly laughable and limited
(Covid likely to have exacerbated this "conflict of interest") ...
It is always difficult for the parent company to protect customers through third parties. This is fair to say in defense of Yamaha.
PS I was thinking if there was a way to apply a light layer without having to disassemble everything, if a problem like this will happens to me before deciding to disassemble I would try to give a spray or using a thin brush with a dense and quality synthetic grease from above of the black keys ... but always out of warranty.
Pietro

[EileenL]

I think I saw a picture on here somewhere of a member that had taken top of off keyboard to access the black notes. It has to be a good quality grease and is carefully inserted into each black key.
  Be very careful if your keyboard is still under guarantee. I would not advise doing it yourself.

[Ingar]

Lubrication with grease? It sounds strange to my ears. Lubrications requires maintenance lubrication to maintain the function. Hmmm wary..


Regards Ingar

[computec1349]

Yamaha uses grease, in the service manual it comes.



Regards.

[Keyboardist]

A shame that this happens "Click noise keys" on a new SX900 keyboard; especially a top of the PSR line one!
You wouldn't expect that to happen but I guess Yamaha's choice to change their type of key bed on the new PSR SX900's has initial issues on some. I hope they look into this before many more releases.

[Joe H]

Sounds like they just need to use more or better grease.  Someone messed up on that one.

Joe H

[EileenL]

These things happen but now it is known you can get your keyboard put right by returning it to a Yamaha service department to have it sorted for you.

[LaHawk]

After contacting Yamaha in May, about the "clacky" black keys, they advised not opening a case. (weird answer) I shall contact them again today.

At about that same time time period, I also contacted a local authorized Yamaha Keyboard Dealer/Repair Store, who in turn contacted Yamaha.

Here is the Dealer/Repairs email reply to me:

Larry,
I checked with Yamaha and they mentioned that it could be a problem with the felts. They advised that I should open up the keyboard and check to see whether the keys are sitting correctly on the assembly.

This was May 13 2020 I will take him up on his offer to check it out, although, the felts could be the problem answer is a new one for us all. I will let him know of the "grease" problem before taking it in. I also want to be sure this is covered under warranty.

So I agree with the advise to first let your dealer know of the problem, and if they do repairs, they, the dealer should contact Yamaha about a fix and warranty coverage.

[overover]

After contacting Yamaha in May, about the "clacky" black keys, they advised not opening a case. (weird answer) I shall contact them again today.

At about that same time time period, I also contacted a local authorized Yamaha Keyboard Dealer/Repair Store, who in turn contacted Yamaha.

Here is the Dealer/Repairs email reply to me:

Larry,
I checked with Yamaha and they mentioned that it could be a problem with the felts. They advised that I should open up the keyboard and check to see whether the keys are sitting correctly on the assembly.

This was May 13 2020 I will take him up on his offer to check it out, although, the felts could be the problem answer is a new one for us all. I will let him know of the "grease" problem before taking it in. I also want to be sure this is covered under warranty.

So I agree with the advise to first let your dealer know of the problem, and if they do repairs, they, the dealer should contact Yamaha about a fix and warranty coverage.

Hi Larry,

I do NOT think that in this case the problem are the (damper / key stopper) FELTS. You can test this relatively easily: If the keys are being pressed straight down (without exerting lateral pressure), and there is a clacky noise at the lower stop or when the keys are released (quickly), it could be due to the FELTS.

The clacky noises described here when the black keys (already in normal play) hit the side of the white keys next to them come, in my opinion, NOT from the felts, but either too little (or unsuitable) GREASE was used, or the keys have too much bearing gap due to a production / design error.


Best regards,
Chris

[EileenL]

Yes the problem is with the grease not felts and not all of the keyboards suffer with this. It is probably only on the first few batches that came out first. The Yamaha engineers should put this right with no trouble but with this awful virus things are not all working as fast as they should.

[LaHawk]

Hi Larry,

I do NOT think that in this case the problem are the (damper / key stopper) FELTS. You can test this relatively easily: If the keys are being pressed straight down (without exerting lateral pressure), and there is a clacky noise at the lower stop or when the keys are released (quickly), it could be due to the FELTS.

The clacky noises described here when the black keys (already in normal play) hit the side of the white keys next to them come, in my opinion, NOT from the felts, but either too little (or unsuitable) GREASE was used, or the keys have too much bearing gap due to a production / design error.
Best regards,
Chris

Hi Chris,

Actually that is the case on my sx-900 . A barely audible noise on black keys when pressed straight down. It's on the quick release of the black keys when I get the clack noise. However I get somewhat similar results with the white keys pressed straight down, although not as loud, (more of a muffled thump sound) leading to my conclusion opinion that the black keys have

1. Felt problems, possible, and fixable
2. Lack of greese, also possible and fixable
3. Design flaw, probable and may not be fixable.

If it's a manufacture design flaw in some, and not all SX-900 produced keyboard, Yamaha needs to replace the keybed or the keyboard itself. However, we will never really know for sure, until successful diagnosis and or repairs are reported, utilizing an official Yamaha Repair Dealer.

Has anyone actually had their SX-900 clack noise problem diagnosed at an official authorized Yamaha Repair/Dealer?
And curious if anyone actually had their black keys noise problem repaired and working without the clack noise?
I'm calling soon to make an appointment at the local Yamaha repair dealer to have him  evaluate my keyboard, but first, I want to be sure I have the backing of Yamaha and the warranty.

[overover]

Hi Larry,

thanks for your detailed feedback!

The white and the black keys of the SX900 both use the same key felts (Upper Felt = red, Lower Felt = purple in the attached picture). Maybe the black keys slightly touch the vertical area below the Upper Felt (marked with a green arrow in the picture) when the key is released quickly (?)


Best regards,
Chris


[attachment deleted by admin]

[EileenL]

Yes I have. It went back to Yamaha approved service center and had grease replaced and is now silent got it back this morning. Excellent service and big thanks to Yamaha.

[LaHawk]

Thanks Chris and Eileen. Good to know there is a fix.

[samhodgsonpsr]

Hi everyone,

Though I would update you all on this 'clacky' key situation. My dealer promptly sent me a new PSR SX900 (this one was clearly re-boxed by Yamaha and had an EU plug modified for the UK included). After just a few days, the same problem has appeared. I am going to return the instrument once again and ask specifically for a repair this time. Hopefully this will actually rectify the fault for good. Unless I have had especially bad luck, I really do think this problem is more widespread than previously thought.

[Toril S]

Oh no!!

[EileenL]

This is why I sent mine back for the grease to be changed. It is working like a dream now with no problems.

[LaHawk]

Mine is currently at a Yamaha Dealer/Repair shop, waiting for specific grease to arrive from Yamaha USA
The email response from the repairman:

Larry,
I heard back from Yamaha and they are shipping me the grease for the black keys. They did note that the new grease may make the key touch heavier at first, but as the grease fits in, it will become smooth.
I will let you know once I receive the grease and have finished the repairs.
Josh

Eileen, could you give an update on your repair please? Did you notice any difference in the touch, and has the noise returned at all? Thanks

I did direct both Yamaha and the shop to this forum topic, to help explain the problem and fix. Thanks EVERYONE for posting on this. 

[EileenL]

Hi Larry,
  Mine was fine and had been well tested before they delivered it back to me. Everything now fine.

[LaHawk]

I picked up my keyboard today from an official Yamaha Dealer/ Repair shop.
He removed the old grease (seemed thin) and applied the new grease  supplied from Yamaha (seemed thicker)
He wasn't 100% sure, but suspects wrong type of grease, not enough grease, or it was applied incorrectly at the factory

But anyway, it's working great with no noise, a "smooth" key action, and he said it should last for many, many years, like a new keyboard should.

Here is a link to Sam Hodgson's "Before" video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv2NoQyn7VI&feature=emb_logo (hope that's OK Sam)
And my "After Grease" video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-91bZ6yxdVk

[Joe H]

... I have filmed a video for my dealer that shows the problem - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv2NoQyn7VI ...

I see a lot of side to side movement with the black keys.. Also someone said it's NOT the felt pads, but it sounds like the felt pads are not working nearly good enough.  Maybe they need to increase the size of the felt pads and a better fit on the black keys. In other words there is a need to improve the design for black keys... reduce the side to side play, increase the size of the felt pads, and use a better quality grease.

How could Yamaha have made such a mistake?

Joe H

[Enildo]

Hello friends!
Mine remains with the defect, getting worse every day.
Now the white keys are also beginning to appear with the noise.
Unfortunately, it seems that I will have to sue the consumer protection agencies. Yamaha Brasil is not giving due importance to the case.
I've already sent several emails, called, filled out a form on the site and they just ignore the problem.
If you are from Brazil and intend to buy one of these keyboards, be careful.

Enildo

[hans1966]

Hello Enildo, I contacted the authorized Yamaha technical service in Cali (Colombia) and my SX900 leaves this Tuesday afternoon for the maintenance workshop, there it will be determined if the problem is lack of grease or is something worse.

Regards.

Hans

[Enildo]

Hello Enildo, I contacted the authorized Yamaha technical service in Cali (Colombia) and my SX900 leaves this Tuesday afternoon for the maintenance workshop, there it will be determined if the problem is lack of grease or is something worse.

Regards.

Hans

Hi Hans!
I hope you have more luck with yamaha in Colombia, here in Brazil I cannot say the same.
I thought yamaha had a worldwide company policy, in terms of dealing with customers, but it seems that it changes from country to country.

Enildo

[EileenL]

Having the new grease applied has stopped a lot of the side movement as well. You will always get a little side movement as the keys are not as close fitting as the white ones. This will also happen on Tyros and Genos keyboards if you make a point of gripping the note and moving it but that is not how we play a keyboard so dose not affect anything.

[hans1966]

Hello Guys, since I have not yet recovered economically, I must postpone the shipment of my SX900 to the authorized Yamaha workshop, since this service is not within the warranty, and I must bear the costs of the material (grease) and maintenance. so I will have to continue with this problem until there is money to fix it.
The situation is increasingly difficult with Covid-19, and although I have some students for virtual classes, this is not enough to pay the costs of rent, internet, mobile telephony. hard work like serenades, masses, and social events, has been reduced by 95%.
I hope I will NOT have to sell my beautiful SX900 to pay off debt, and so I can survive.

regards

Hans