THIS WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY AND MIGHT DAMAGE YOUR UNIT. Don't say I didn't warn you...loudly! I had a few switches that weren't firing correctly so I decided to take matters into my own hands.
Check out this shortcut method, bypassing the ribbon cable mess -- www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/helix-footswitch-repair-video.2249950/post-34864434
Thanks for this! Fixed an erratic Tap Tempo by switching the footswitch with one that is used less, and applied Contact Spray to the actual button. Problem solved. This was on a Helix LT, I did not have to fiddle around with the ribbon cable on my unit.
I just did this with my Helix LT. it’s the same process but slightly easier because the ribbon is on the opposite side of the circuit board and I luckily didn’t have to cut any glue and could just flip the board around with the ribbon attached. It was pretty easy. Thanks for giving me the confidence to try!
Good on you for documenting your procedure. I recently removed and replaced my entire bottom row of switches. It would have been a lot better to have documented the process. I know the feeling of having a non working unit and then fixing it and having it work again. Like you, I was super grateful to not royally mess anything up. Congrats :)
This might be a Godsend for me. I have been having buttons not responding property for quite some time. They aren't dead, but they are sometimes requiring more push or even registering a double when I push too hard (meaning they turn on but then off again.) If they are just gunked up and dirty this could work for me, too. Thanks for the video, Alex! As a gigging musician who has played everywhere both inside and outside (in the cleanest and nastiest places) it's safe to say that this could very well be the diagnoses and your approach would very well be the right fix for me.
Success!!! Thank you so much for your easy to follow guide. Even a total newb like myself was able to do some open brain surgery and now my switches are as good as new!
Alex i am really glad you did this. i need to get to my my USB-B port because the plastic notch inside it broke. need to see if resoldering a new one is good idea.
Alex, thanks for posting this video! I have been dreading taking apart the Helix. One of the LED's on my tap switch is out (verified by the LED test and the fact it doesn't blink red anymore only very faintly blue). I have read that the LED's were not soldered that well when they stuffed the PCB, so I am going to reflow it. Thanks!
Thank you for the run though. I had the same problems. Just finished doing the same project and this strategy has seemed to improve my situation. My Tap Tempo button was the button suffering for the faulty button presses. After following this video and aplying the DEOXIT product, the tempo button works significantly better than it did. Thanks man.
Thanks for doing this, I am having the exact same problem of pressing the footswitch, and it turns on then back off again. I guess I'll dive into this....
My "Save" button at the upper left of my Helix stopped working a while ago (I can still save with HX Edit), but I'd never dive in to attempt what you did. Glad it worked out for you, but no thanks.
I have the same problem with my 1st gen Helix floor (10-12-15 registration), we had a recurring gig on a beach setting, and I think sand got into a couple of the switches. I worked them over with contact cleaner, and that helped somewhat. I can see on the screen when I hit a footswitch the block turns on, and turns off when I take my foot off. Also, when scrolling through the banks of presets, sometimes hitting "up" advances the presets too far, like going from bank 1 and 2 to 5 and 6 with one footswitch press. Trying to decide if I going to send the unit in (way beyond warranty) or try what you did.
Thank you. Same problem with footswitch. Followed your video. Avoided your couple pitfalls. Helix successfully repair (long pasted expired warranty now fully voided) One question I had: Are the mini switches sealed? I couldn't really find an access point (like on a typical pot) to spray the deoxit. Still fixed the problem. Chalked to a little help, a little skill and a bit of luck.
They're pretty much sealed as far as my shoddy eyes could see save for a small gap around the edge of the circular button that gets depressed. I assume the cleaner gets into that area. I'm glad you're issue is solved!
My tap tempo foot switch is not acting right.. I don’t know if it’s mechanical or a bug in the firmware? As such I don’t know wether to mess with cracking it open or not? Hmmmmm…? Thanks for the video, good job!
Hi Alex! Thanks for the video. It helps a lot. I have LT version and have the same problem with few switches. Thinking of two options: changing all micro switches or just deox them? What's your experience after a few month after deox them? Is failure still re-occurring? Thanks for your feedback in advance! Brgds, S
Having worked on a decent amount of audio gear, it's very likely that just cleaning them (it's surprising how little Deoxit is needed) will solve it for longer that it took for them to fail from the factory. Switch cleaner is probably the best kept secret in audio repair. And it's not even a secret. That said, it could be the switch internals failing, but they usually fail fast when actually defective.
Good day! I was wondering if maybe you have service manual/systematic diagram of the whole unit? I’m trying to get a fix for my expression pedal, and it’s not delivering power so evidently it’s not lighting up as it’s supposed to be. Would really appreciate some help!
The ribbon cable being glued.... Did you have to glue it back in or was it ok being just clipped in like a normal ribbon cable? Thank you for the video. Im about to delve into this and try to fix 2 foot switches! But the glue concerned me! Thank you!
Hi, I have a helix floor with this problem: it loses the input signal, the signal goes in fits and starts, the symbol on the input display flashes red, then it starts working again for a while, sometimes it works for hours and then repeats the problem. Lately it also crashes, meaning the large display turns off and all the small displays start flashing. What could it be? I was thinking about the power supply, thanks for any response
okay, sounds like two separate issues. Input issue-- try different cables. Try those cables in something other than Helix to rule out the cables. Crashing issue - those can usually be remedied by reinstalling the current firmware and following the instructions to the T: Make a backup, reflash (reinstall) firmware, factory reset, reload backup, power cycle off/on again to finally rebuild presets. Hope these help. Feel free to get back to me if not.
@@alex-kenivel Thanks for the reply, so the pedalboard, as I wrote, works very well and has been updated, everything is fine but every now and then it crashes, everything flashes like a Christmas tree, then after an hour of turning it off and on again it starts playing again. I don't want there to be capacitor problems on the power supply board
@@Moreno280161 I still recommend reflashing the current firmware even if it is up to date, most problems like this tend to go away after a firmware flash with the proper steps. I'm almost certain it isn't a hardware issue or the problems would be more consistent.
aww man that sucks. Did they all spring out like they were trying to escape like mine did? I used a magnet on my carpet to find them all..I dont know the dimensions, sorry!
Hi Alex, i would like to know if you ever heard that helix stuck on ui mcu firmware updating screen. I have search & read some threads on line6 community and 2 of the thread says that maybe a cable loose or board displacement, do you have any idea about that? Thank you
That issue sounds familiar and I think that might need a deeper dive than I'd be able to handle. I needed the MCU board replaced on my unit due to loss of USB connectivity. Try opening a support ticket with L6 if you haven't
@@alex-kenivel yes, i have open a support ticket with L6 but still have not any respond yet. My unit also can’t detect by usb if plugged into my pc when the screen still stuck on ui mcu thing, does this indicate a mcu board problem like yours?
I bought mine from an online music site. I had this problem and had to exchange the unit. I was bummed but my “engineer” overnighted a new unit. After 2 yrs, and gigging at least once a week, the volume knob feels like it’s going to fall through the unit, sticky tempo switch that annoys me due to using the strobe tuning onstage. I’ve had it unstick and the audience hears me trying to tune up. Some jacks came loose too. I’m going to try this to clean switches, and somehow figure out how to access volume knob, and other knobs. When I go in I’m going to loosen and use some thread lock (maybe finger nail polish). Maybe a good clean, and thread lock will prevent me having to open it up again.
Can somebody tell me what the exact type (name or whatever) of the LEDs are right and left to a foot switch button? This is the second time that a couple of LEDs are wrong and I want to replace them myself but I don't know what are the types of these replacement parts.
Here is the part number for the footswitch LED. 18-26-0011 Full Compass does not have a listing for it, so you would need to call them or email them directly for pricing. We have them in stock, so they would be able to get one to you.
@@zkoszegi1 that's the only place where I know you can order these specific parts... you can also try buying a broken parts-only Helix, HX stomp, etc...
@@alex-kenivel Hi Alex....exactly right. Modern electronics are very static sensitive, so when servicing such equipment an earthed wrist strap is advisable, or at least touch some sort of grounding plate at regular intervals whilst working on the unit. Otherwise a good and informative video, havn't yet found the need to take mine to bits!!!
