Hello Elektroneurs,
I was wondering if anyone has some tips to improve the responsiveness of the function button on the machinedrum… ? The button itself is not the smoothest in comparison to other buttons on the interface … it feels like there is some slight kind of friction happening down there… it barely responds …
At the moment, it wouldn’t be possible for me to send the machine to Elektron… I’ve looked up similar related button topics on earlier threads, but I couldn’t find anything that explains how to remove the top of a machinedrum button for cleaning,etc… perhaps i have to dig deeper.
Since i’ve got some recording coming up very soon, I would really appreciate your recommendations on how to improve it if that’s a possibility …
Cheers
Hi, in order to properly inspect the button itself, the faceplate will probably need to come off. It wouldn’t be super complicated to open it up, however if you aren’t up to it, I’d find someone to check it out for you.
Take the faceplate off and spray a little contact spray on it.
@shigginpit Hi
It isn’t a problem at all for me to open the lid of course… but nothing is visible that way…
I was wondering if you know how to remove the cap of the button in order to clean the contact surface / mechanism that communicates with the board …
@shroom Hi
Thank you for the advice
I will definitely give it a try,
Hopefully that helps.
Any ideas on how to remove the cap of the button , in order to reach the contact surface ? So I can see whether there is any dirt inside …
It seems that the cap is removable, looking at the base the squarish base that hold the button…
Cheers
I borrowed this picture but I think once you get the faceplate off, it will be evident that the cap isn’t the problem and I wouldn’t mess with it unless it’s 100% necessary. It’s probably that actuator/plunger mechanism underneath the cap (but not blocked by the cap except with the face still on) which you’ll have to inspect for restrictions.
We don’t want the button to get further damaged, so I’d start with gentle stuff before you start yanking on it, therefore you’ll need to have some canned air and probably contact cleaner to help you out if it’s gunked up.
Having some tweezers around would also help, just in case there is some fuzzy lint or hair which is caught in the actuator mechanism.
I’d just get the face off and in a non destructive manner, observe the function button by pressing it and looking for the obstruction, then decide what to do from there.
Hey Hikups, yes you just pull it off, just be mindful to pull it straight up. I did this with a Rytm I just bought, it had the same problem and if memory serves me right with my long gone MD.
Edit: Looking at the image shigginpit posted maybe the cap on the Md don’t come off easy, just spray it directly with contact spray and push it a few times, sorry it’s been a few years since I had a MD.
@shigginpit
Thank you tons …
I will start with the contact cleaner and see where it leads !
The most important button stopping is kind of frustrating …
@shroom thank you guys !
Cheers
No problem, be careful and good luck. I just don’t want it to become a bigger headache for you since the elektron workshop only does very limited service on mkII MD and I think they don’t service MKI at all anymore. From what I understand their parts stock is also very low, if they have any left at all now in close to 2025, so it will become very difficult to repair if parts start breaking in the process.
As long as you’re mindful, should be no problem to inspect it and then make a judgement call about what to do. If you do use contact cleaner, I would start out pretty conservatively and then use the action of the button to try and free it from whatever the clogging is, and then if necessary follow with a little more when the button can travel a bit more freely and just have a piece of paper towel there to keep the dirty stuff that runs out from dripping into another button mechanism.
With any luck it will all go smoothly, and then also take the opportunity to use the canned air to blow off the board because it will probably be fuzzy or dusty and cleaning it off will help prevent this from happening to any other buttons.
The other thing to check is that it isn’t catching on the faceplate itself - loosening the faceplate and retightening is worth a go. Sometimes cases warp slightly over time.
Hi @shigginpit
I’ve sprayed the button without removing the cap at first… luckily it works like a gem !…
I am so glad I had to stop here without removing the cap risking any further damages…
I’ve gone further with lubricanting all other rigid buttons as well…
Really much appreciated for your kind support…
@shroom
Thank you again mate for the amazing recommendation !!!
You’ve really helped me relieve the bloody stress ! 
Thank you for your kind follow up and support !
Cheers
Problem solved, thank you for the recommendation!
It was a matter of lubrication apparently… I hope the button keeps working for now until I get the chance to replace it.
Cheers !
I’m really glad this turned out to be a simple matter for you. It always helps to approach repairs as living things, so even if you find evidence of something online that seems similar to your issue, always look at the device with your own eyes and make a determination of whether to proceed.
In this case it turned out to be simple and I think that’s great and now you can enjoy your MD. Hopefully the recording session is successful too.
Just in case it needs to be said, don’t ever add contact cleaner to the encoders because they’re already factory lubricated and you want to keep that grease present inside of them, so you’d need a lubricated cleaner for that, whereas the button is a ball bearing and spring type mechanism that can get gummed up, and therefore the contact spray has a different effect on them than it does on an encoder.
Just wanted to mention that so you don’t end up with a different problem 
You are most welcome sir, hope you continue having massive fun with that beast of a machine for years to come! 
Noted @shigginpit !
The buttons are buttery and smooth … i’ve never had them smooth as such …
makes life easier … I guess the contact cleaner wont’ do any harm then … the buttons seem happier than ever…
I will come to this thread again if I get to encounter something else ! - Actually I have something else to share, but I will refrain at this moment …
It was great talking to you …
Cheers
I will @shroom, we have a lot to learn and conquer together …
Cheers mate
Hey shigginpit, you seem to know a bit about the ball and spring. My classic/extended button came completely loose and I’m not sure if the spring goes on top of the ball or the ball goes on top of the spring. Either way seems to unpredictably activate the button.
@sezare56 was the ball above or below the spring when you took apart your MD button?
It was sitting on the tiny metal protruders(for lack of any terminology knowledge here) while the spring was floating loose in the Machinedrum