Just got an Elka MK88 - and of course the aftertuch is not working. I need to so service - change the rubber strip that sells here is the obvious, are there any other parts wich wears that would be good to change ? If so, were can I find them ?
Sometimes its not the rubber strip, several other forums listed dry solder connections and a problem with the power supply. Can you get it to work using midi? If midi works then its not the rubber strip.
I can’t find a source for a replacement strip. There are conductive rubber pad replacements that show up on ebay from time to time, and conductive paint that works, but is hard to get consistent depth so all keys hit evenly.
” Can you get it to work using midi? If midi works then its not the rubber strip.”
I get basic midi out signal, on / off and velocity. And I can get aftertuch on some keys if i press very hard. I then keep pressing the key after it hit bottom. What conclusion can be made of that ?
The spare rubberstrip is sold here. Like $15. Plan now is to take it all apart, clean sensors and change the pads. ( if I can find any spare pads) and a new rubber strip. There are som midi notes that are not ”clean”, so there seems to be some wear. This must have been a wonderfull keybed when new.
But I’d like to be sure there’s no other fault with it before I put in all the work. Have you found any info on MK88 on other sites ?
Thanks 
for your input. Much obliged !
I think what was meant, was to connect a separate remote keynoard via MIDI cable into the Elka MIDI IN port, set the program config to respond to incoming MIDI data, and play the remote keyboard and listen to the Elka voices play, testing aftertouch pressure remotely. That bypasses your Elka keys and contacts, for isolation and possible elimination. If all sounds normal when played remotely then it suggests the problem is with the Elka keys, contacts, strips, etc. Conversely if the aftertouch still malfunctions in the same way, then perhaps the keyboard is not at fault, but it might be in the program patches, or memory. In that case you might want to back up program data and try a hard reset, if available on that model.
Hi I’m following up this old thread because I’m trying to revive my MK-88 which was no longer working after being in storage for a few years.
The electronics seem good after I re-seated some ICs, but some keys are not working properly, they either need excessive force to trigger a note or, in a couple of cases, are silent. (this keyboard was fully working before being stored)
(@MultiMuse: the MK88 is just a MIDI controller. No sounds. I’m only talking about MIDI output here.)
I took the whole thing apart and cleaned all the contacts with Deoxit and the facing parts of the rubber strip with Deoxit/fader. Didn’t make any difference.
I saw the reference in this thread to the “rubber strip sold here for ~$15” but the product sold here is just a skinny “keybed cushion” (I ordered one anyway, just in case, but it’s exactly as described. Not the rubber strip.). Did they previously sell the real MK88 conductive rubber strip here?
Did you find a source for a replacement?
Is there a better way to clean or restore the old conductive rubber strip?
Is there anything else that could potentially be causing this problem?
Thanks!
Can’t help you much I’m afraid. I closed the project due to lack of experience and time…as you say it’s kind of difficult to locate the problem. When I disovered the cost of shipping of the rubber strip to EU I lost it, As you I had to use exessive force to get for the aftertuch to react. This had me thinking that the electronics did work properly, and that it was indeed the rubber strip, that dries, which was the cause. But paying that cost of freight for a $20 rubber strip just was not worth the risk if I did not know it would solve the problem. I was under the impression that the strip sold was the one under the keys that controls the aftertuch, the problem seems to be frequent as these are getting older, I read about it in at least one more forum. (Dont remeber were). Maybe it was Sound on Sound the english magasine. No service station here would accept the job, and as it weighs +25kg its difficult to ship. Case closed for me.
I’ve been scouring the Earth for one of these for a while that is willing to ship to Minnesota (within reason…) and am willing to try repairing a unit (if it’s just the aftertouch that needs maintenance).
Would you be willing to part with it?