Roland Groovebox MC-505 Parts list manual

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2012©
1
Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
Fig. 1 - Original MC-505 LCD display corrupted.
Table of Contents
Recommended Tools....................................................................................................................... p. 2
Installation ................................................................................................................................ p.3 - 18
Opening the Case.................................................................................................................... p. 3-4
Removing the Main Board...................................................................................................... p. 5-6
Removing the LCD cover..........................................................................................................p. 7-9
Removing the old LCD ......................................................................................................... p. 10-11
Modifying for new LCD........................................................................................................p. 11-14
Installing new LCD ............................................................................................................... p. 15-16
Reinstalling the LCD cover........................................................................................................ p. 17
Adjusting the LCD contrast....................................................................................................... p. 18
Read the entire document before beginning the installation process. Take your time, take notes, and
take photos whenever the need arises.
This procedure does not require any special skills other than the ability to use a few tools, read
directions carefully, and to have some patience as well as taking your time along the way.
Be sure to unplug the machine before working on the inside, the voltages inside
have the potential to be very dangerous!
Continue at your own risk! The author of this document cannot be held responsible for any damages
caused by the information contained within this document.

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2012©
2
Fig. 2 - Recommended Tools
Recommended Tools*
Metal Nibblers or Dremel tool
14 mm Wrench
Phillips Head Screwdriver
Mini Screwdrivers both Phillips and Flat Head
Wire Cutters or Scissors
Exacto Knife or Razor blade
Drill and 1/16" drill bit
Also several zip lock bags are handy for holding screws and nuts
Metal Nibbler tool can be purchased on Amazon link Metal Nibbler Tool at Amazon.com
All other tools can be found on Amazon as well if needed
Replacement MC-505 LCD can be purchased via
E-bay glitchscience items on E-bay
glitchscience.com direct link to glitchscience.com
or from Amazon link MC-505 LCD at Amazon.com
* These are just the tools I used in the replacement process you may possibly be able to make substitutes

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2012©
3
Fig. 3 - Side Case Screw
Fig. 4 - Bottom Case Screws
Step 1:
You will need to remove the screws from the sides and
bottom of the case. Remove 1 screw from the two sides and
8 screws from the bottom.
Be sure to make note of which screws go where and store
them in zip lock or somewhere safe so they're not lost.

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2012©
4
Fig. 5 - Back of the Case
Step 2:
Remove the screws from the back of the case.
You only need to remove the screws starting with the one directly
under the 'nd' of the Roland print onto the right side. 6 screws in
total.
You will also need to remove the plastic nuts from the 1/4" inputs.
You may need to loosen the nuts using a wrench. 14mm wrench
or an adjustable.
Once again be sure to make note of which screws go where and
store them in zip lock or somewhere safe so they're not lost.
Personally, I used separate zip lock bags for each section of the
process in this guide.

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2012©
5
Fig. 6 - Inside Case Main board
Fig. 7 - Ribbon Cable Connector One Side Opened

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2012©
6
Fig. 8 - Zip Tie which needs to be cut
Step 3:
Now that the case is opened locate the main board. This is the circuit
board with all of the ribbon cables connected to it shown in Fig. 6.
Disconnect all of the ribbon cables from the main board. Some of the
connectors need to be unlocked as shown in Fig. 7 you must pull up on
both sides of the connector to unlock and remove the cable. You will need
to cut the zip cord on the lower left corner of the board as shown in Fig. 8.
It may be a good idea to even take a picture to remember which cable goes
where, but that is up to you.
After removing the cables, remove the three screws holding in the main
board. Then remove the main board and set it aside.

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2012©
7
Fig. 9 - Main Board Removed
Fig. 10 - LCD cover needs to be removed

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2012©
8
Fig. 11 - Using an Exacto Knife to remove LCD cover
Step 4:
Now you need to remove the LCD cover from the front of the case in order
to access the screws which hold in the bad LCD screen.
The method I use to remove the LCD cover is to use an Exacto knife and
first slowly and carefully pry up one of the top corners of the cover. I then
continue to slide the sharp edge along the top of the cover prying it up.
You may also find that using one of the flat head mini screw drivers to also
be helpful in the process.
Just remember to take your time.

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2012©
9
Fig. 12 - The LCD cover shown pried up
Step 4 continued:
As you can see in Fig. 12 the LCD cover has double back tape that runs
across both the top and bottom edges. Once you pry up the top edge, it is
just a simple matter of using your hand to slowly pull up the bottom edge.
Remove the LCD cover and set it aside until later.

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2012©
10
Fig. 13 - The LCD cover removed
Step 5:
As you can see in Fig. 13 the LCD cover has now been removed. The LCD
itself is held in by 4 mini screws. Remove these screws using a mini phillips
head screwdriver, then remove the LCD.