.png)
Yamaha SY85 Synthesiser
Repair and Refurbishment
Project
A 6 part series of videos showing the work undertaken to repair and refurbish my Yamaha SY85.
In part 1 of this video series I assess the issues with this Yamaha synthesiser.
Specifically this video shows
1) how to get into the synthesiser.
2) how the disk drive is secured to the case and how to release it.
3) where the battery is located on the main mother board (which will also be replaced)
4) where power supply is posisitioned in the case.
Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.
This is the second part of the SY85 restoration series of videos.
I apologise for the sound quality in the second half of the video, the cameras randomly decided to swap to an internal microphone.
Part 2 of the restoration concentrates on replacing the broken power supply switch. As you can see I ended up having to repair the power supply printed circuit board (broken tracks and broken board), before I could get to the job I originally started!
Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.
This is the third part of the SY85 restoration series of videos.
Part 3 of the restoration concentrates on fitting a new drive belt to the disk drive. Once you know the make and model number of the drive, (of which there are 3 types) you can order a new drive belt from several sources. The replacement belt I obtained came from a supplier in Germany.
When the old belt was removed it just disintegrated in my hands, so there was no way this was working when I took on the synth.
After a couple of numpty mistakes the new belt was fitted and disk drive fitted to the unit. This should have been enough to get the disk drive working again.
So did the fix work? Watch the video!
Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.
Part 4 of the Yamaha SY85 restoration.
In this episode we tackle the battery. To be honest the battery is OK in the synth. But as with many Yamaha synths of this time the battery that is fitted is soldered into the board.
While I have the synth open and in pieces it is a prudent step to remove the soldered battery. Replace it with a coin cell battery battery holder. Then fit a standard CR2450 coin cell battery.
Unlike many synths which take the CR2032 battery, this synth takes a CR2450 battery which is deeper than the CR2032. Which of course means the replacement battery will not fit the CR2032 battery holders that I had. And replacements had to be ordered from China.
The replacement of the original battery means that to replace the battery in the future does not require the owner to strip the synth down, nearly removed the back, pop out the old battery and press home a new battery. A 20 min exercised as opposed to a 2.5 hour exercise.
Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.
Part 5 of the Yamaha SY85 restoration.
In this episode we finally tackle installing the new disk drive.
The new disk drive has been around the world and arrived a few weeks back.
So this is the point where it gets installed and we find out if, as suspected the old disk drive was the point of failure.
I choose a new disk drive that has been modified for operation with the SY85 as opposed to buying a reconditioned or recycled drive that was originally installed in the SY85.
So lets insert a disk and see if it loads.
Click anywhere on the image or title to see the work undertaken on this synthesiser.
Part 6 of the Yamaha SY85 restoration. In this episode we upgrade the memory.
The SY85 ships with 512KB of volatile memory. This means any wave you store into this memory will be lost at the point you switch the machine off. In order to retain these wave samples you need to add non-volatile memory.
I am installing 1Mb of non-volatile memory. Any waves stored into this memory will be retained when the SY85 is switch off. This memory is available from Sector101 (Link available in video notes) and is a highly recommended upgrade to the SY85.