Roland Groovebox MC-505 User manual

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2020©
0
Roland MC-505
Replacement Display
Install Guide
glitchscience.com
Installation of this part along with any associated risks involved in the process are the responsibility of
the installer. Proceed at your own risk.

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2020©
1
Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
Fig. 1 - Original MC-505 LCD display that has gone bad.
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 Original LCD ............................................................................................... p. 10 - 11
Modifying Mount for New LCD ......................................................................................... p. 11 - 14
Installing the New LCD ...................................................................................................... p. 15 - 16
Reinstalling the LCD Cover ....................................................................................................... p. 17
Adjusting the LCD Contrast ...................................................................................................... p. 18
Links to Recommended Tools......................................................................................................... p. 19
PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK!
Read this entire guide before beginning the installation process. Take your time, take notes, and take
photos if you feel the need to do so along the way. Installation of this part along with any associated
risks involved in the process are the responsibility of the installer.
**************************************************
Be sure to UNPLUG the machine before working on the inside,
the voltages inside have the potential to be very dangerous!
**************************************************

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2020©
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Fig. 2 - Recommended Tools
Recommended Tools*
Metal Nibbler Tool
14mm or 9/16” Wrench or an Adjustable Wrench
No.2 Phillips Head Screwdriver
PH1 Precision Phillips Screwdriver or No.1 Phillips Screwdriver
Flush Wire Cutters or Scissors (not pictured)
Spudger Pry Tools
Optional: Electric Drill and 1/16" Drill Bit (not pictured)
Optional: Sorting Tray or Zip Lock Bags (not pictured)
* These are just the tools I used in the replacement process you may possibly be able to make substitutes
A list of links to some of the tools listed above can be found on page 19 at the end of this guide.

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2020©
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Fig. 3 - Side Case Screw
Fig. 4 - Bottom Case Screws
Step 1: UNPLUG THE UNIT BEFORE YOU BEGIN!
To remove the bottom of the case you will need to remove the
screws from the sides and bottom of the case. There is 1 screw on
each side and 8 screws on the bottom. These screws are shown
circled in the photos above labelled Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.
Be sure to make note of which screws go where and store
them in some manner so they do not get lost.

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2020©
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Fig. 5 - Back of the Case
Step 2:
Remove 6 screws from the back of the case.
These are circled in the Fig. 5 photo above.
You will also need to remove the plastic nuts from the 1/4"
sockets on the back of the case. You may need to loosen the nuts
using a wrench. A 14mm or 9/16” wrench or an adjustable wrench
can be used to loosen these nuts if needed.
Once again be sure to make note of which screws go where and
store them so they're not lost. Since there are multiple different
types / sizes of screws, it is a good idea not to mix them up.
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©
2020©
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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©
2020©
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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 tie on the lower left corner of the board shown in Fig. 8.
After removing the cables, remove the three screws holding the main
board in place. Then remove the main board from the case and set it aside.

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
produced by: glitchscience.com 2011©
2020©
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Fig. 9 - Main Board Removed
Fig. 10 - LCD cover needs to be removed

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
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2020©
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Fig. 11 - Using tool to pry up edge of LCD front cover
Fig. 12 - Using plastic pry tool to push on LCD front cover from the backside

Roland MC-505 LCD Replacement Guide
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2020©
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Fig. 13 - The LCD cover shown pulled up
Step 4:
You will need to remove the LCD cover from the front of the case in order to
access the screws used to mount the original LCD screen in place.
There are multiple ways to accomplish removing the front LCD cover. You may be
able to remove the LCD cover using a thin pry tool and prying up one of the top
corners of the cover as shown in Fig. 11 and then slide the edge along the top of
the cover to pry it up. You may also be able to press the cover out by pushing on
the backside of the cover using a plastic tool. This is shown in the Fig. 12 photo.
As shown in Fig. 13 the LCD cover has been pulled up and you can see the double
sided tape that runs across both the top and bottom edges. Once you pry up
either the top edge or the bottom edge you should be able to slowly pull up the
other edge by hand.
Do not use excessive force while attempting to remove the cover. It is best to use
plastic tools if possible to prevent scratching the finish of the case or plastic
cover. I personally have used a thin metal pry tool on multiple occasions when
removing the LCD cover without causing any noticeable damage.
Remove the LCD front cover and set it aside until later.