Button repair kit for Harmony 6xx/700 remotes

[stevebow]

2½ years ago I purchased a Harmony 650 remote. Around 1 year ago, its buttons started playing up i.e. requiring multiple presses or mashing them firmly before contact was made. I disassembled the remote and found the button membrane was covered in sticky gunk, as if soft drink had been spilt, but that certainly wasn't the case.

Anyway, I cleaned the membrane and pcb with IPA and all was like new again. But around a month later, the problem started to return. I opened up the remote again, same gunk, another clean, good as new again. For another month. Rinse and repeat each month.

I was getting a little sick of doing this each month, and a little research led me to this explanation here:

http://www.michaelshell.org/gadgetsandf ... neoil.html

which describes the problem exactly. The Harmony wasn't as bad as the photos depict, but the same problem nevertheless. Searching the Logitech forum revealed very few with button problems, but I guess people are just throwing these out after a few years when the buttons give trouble.

If you don't mind doing your own repairs, a solution is this:

http://p1repair.com/keypad-repair-kits/ ... epair.html

I have to admit I was a little sceptical at first, but given the roughly $19 (including postage) it would cost, I wouldn't be much out of pocket if it amounted to nothing. Delivery time (vis USPS) was around 2 weeks. An instruction sheet was included and installation was very straightforward.

As described, it is a laser-cut sheet that is stuck down to the pcb and sits below the membrane buttons (leaking the silicone oil). The sheets matched the pcb shape and button positions perfectly, although you might want to practice lining up the sheets on the pcb first before peeling off the tape backing and committing to the stick-down.

The sheets are less than ¼ mm and you don't notice any difference in the button pressure at all - you wouldn't know they were there. Needless to say, the buttons are working like new again. Although the membrane will continue to leak oil, the sheets should keep this away from the contacts. I will probably still open the remote once a year to clean out the oil as a matter of course, rather than each month.

If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, it's a very good way to extend the life of your Harmony, albeit only after 1½ years!

[prl]

Has anyone pulled a Harmony 785 apart? The trick is apparently that there are two screws under the plastic cover over the top half of the remote (the one with the window for the LCD display), as well as the four obvious screws in the battery compartment. The two hidden screws are either side of the Activities button at the top end of the remote.

The photos in this post about the takedown of a 785 show the location of the screws, but if you look carefully at the photos, one of the silvered plastic bars on the side of the panel that needs to be removed has been broken, presumably when trying to lever it out. It;s the silver bar on the right-hand side of the top photo - that bar is supposed to continue to the top of the remote. I'd prefer not to damage the remote while taking it apart.

It looks like the general method is to remove one of the two silvered bars, then lever up the cover, then undo those two screws and the four in the battery compartment.

Unfortunately, the page about the replacement button membranes doesn't list one for the 785.

And I presume that IPA is isopropyl alcohol, not India Pale Ale?

[MrQuade]

Has anyone pulled a Harmony 785 apart?

I did a couple of years ago, and didn't recall any particular show stoppers getting it apart. Although it was that long ago, that I can't remember specifics.

Mine had a bum IR transmitter, so I was having a sticky beak to see if there was anything obviously busted. Never found anything in the end.

[prl]

Has anyone pulled a Harmony 785 apart?

I did a couple of years ago, and didn't recall any particular show stoppers getting it apart. Although it was that long ago, that I can't remember specifics.

Can you remember how you accessed the screws near the Activities button?

[prl]

Perhaps if a hot air blower is used to soften the glue holding that front panel piece on, the panel can be removed without removing the silver side bars. I had a closer look at the images (there's a bar above each one that gives full resolution), and in the lower one, it looks like two round studs that hold the silver bar in have been broken or cut to release the bar.

[Paul_oz53]

Thanks Stevebow!

Two button only kits ordered. I've thrown away at least two 650 remotes in recent years.

Poor form that Logitech sell a product with inbuilt rapid obsolescence that is so easily fixed.

Edit : Order in the post - complete with photo and request to confirm receipt.

[stevebow]

Unfortunately, the page about the replacement button membranes doesn't list one for the 785.

Try contacting them for advice, they were very helpful with my own enquiries. They may have something for the 785 planned or perhaps one of the universal kits may do the trick.

And I presume that IPA is isopropyl alcohol, not India Pale Ale?

Heh, it sure looked like the remote had been well cleaned with the second kind of "IPA" when I originally opened it!

[Star6key]

Definitely interested in this but it will have to wait a few weeks.
Cheers!

The IPA, can you use a spray (that's all Bunnings seems to have), or do you need a liquid? Just concerned that the spray might go into places it shouldn't.

[prl]

Unfortunately, the page about the replacement button membranes doesn't list one for the 785.

Try contacting them for advice, they were very helpful with my own enquiries. They may have something for the 785 planned or perhaps one of the universal kits may do the trick.

That's a good idea. I'll just have to see whether I can get the thing apart.

[peteru]

I'll just have to see whether I can get the thing apart.

This tool from Bunnings should do the trick as far as taking it apart goes. Although, at $40, it may be a bit too expensive for a tool you'll probably only need to use once.

[prl]

"Don't force it; use a bigger hammer"

[peteru]

Thor's repairs.

[Spot]

I've got a pile of 350s, just like those for sale on the BW site that have all had button problems. I'd love to get them going again but I have no idea how to pull them apart.

https://beyonwiz.com.au/product/logitec ... e-control/

[stevebow]

Googling "harmony 350 teardown" gave me a pointer to a 300 disassembly video on Youtube. The 300 and 350 may be similar enough to take apart the same way perhaps?

[Spot]

Thanks! I'll look into that.

[Paul_oz53]

Thanks Stevebow!

Two button only kits ordered. I've thrown away at least two 650 remotes in recent years.
...

Kits arrived by post in an envelope after 11 days from Florida (opened by Border Security no less ). Took p1repairs advice to not order the chemical cleaner if outside the US. Can't help but wonder what might have happened if I did Anyway, 45mins later the broken 650 remote is as good as new

The latest kit is thin stick-ons for all the buttons (except the metal buttons), replacing the two membranes shown in the video on their website. Hardest part was starting to peel the paper backing. Very finicky to start but once you get a corner to lift it comes straight off. Looks like a good investment for long-suffering Harmony 650 owners. The tools I needed were:

1. a PH000 screwdriver for 9 screws (6 external, 3 internal)
2. hairdryer to soften the glue holding the cover over two screws top rear of the cover
3. a probe to pry the case free and
4. cotton buds and metho to clean the contacts.

20190823_192007.jpg

(284.56 KiB) Not downloaded yet

[stevebow]

I just wanted to follow up by saying I have been using this button kit for around 3 month now. Before using the kit, I would have had to have re-cleaned the buttons at least one or twice by now, not to mention the grief I'd have been getting from them.

The buttons are still all working flawlessly - the kit has definitely been a new lease on life for the remote.

[Paul_oz53]

I just wanted to follow up by saying I have been using this button kit for around 3 month now. Before using the kit, I would have had to have re-cleaned the buttons at least one or twice by now, not to mention the grief I'd have been getting from them.

The buttons are still all working flawlessly - the kit has definitely been a new lease on life for the remote.

Similar here too - the remote with the kit is fine but my other 650 is starting to act up. I have a spare kit that will soon be put to use I think.