Pitch Bend spring - DIY fix?

Synth Repair
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Alesis Ion - repair of a missing pitch bend spring

Hi all,

I am trying to restore a used Alesis Ion synth. It is missing the pitch bend return spring - and I think the Mod wheels have them also (per BOM in service manual).

Has anyone tried to make one from piano or guitar wire?
Or has a photo of one.

I am guessing it is just two or three turns of stiff wire around the pot shaft with long ends that the pitch wheel touches.

The service manual also shows parts for Mod wheel return springs - other synths don’t have these - are they recommended for the Ion?

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If you can’t find any, try Aliexpress. They have everything on there!

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005376946963.html?algo_pvid=4a3eeaa2-9f38-4d60-adb5-8297656b2f23&algo_exp_id=4a3eeaa2-9f38-4d60-adb5-8297656b2f23-7&pdp_ext_f={“order”%3A"690"%2C"spu_best_type"%3A"price"%2C"eval"%3A"1"%2C"fromPage"%3A"search"}&pdp_npi=6%40dis!GBP!2.51!2.43!!!22.88!22.14!%40210388c917676026550253308e1d3f!12000032804153746!sea!UK!106792178!X!1!0!n_tag%3A-29919%3Bd%3Ae6a90d9f%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895&curPageLogUid=aTbK0ftjuHnZ&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch|query_from%3A|x_object_id%3A1005005376946963|_p_origin_prod%3A

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usually the pot and the spring are on different sides of the fence, so to speak. on most keyboards the spring is the type of two splayed legs. All you really have to do is google “midi keyboard pitch bend spring”.

before anything, you’ll have to open the keyboard up. Be patient and make sure you find all the screws and keep them in different containers. Since this sounds like your first foray, I’d take some pics of your work, as the keyboard will remain ‘unscrewed’ until you go to a decent hardware store and find a suitable replacement. Hopefully, it’s a rather generic one (considering it’s a budget keyboard; still worth it). Otherwise, Syntaur will probably have a suitable replacement.

Most importantly, make sure not to ‘test’ any cables that might be on components between top and bottom. extremely gingerly figure out and remove one end; document before removal.

Good luck.

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