Teenage Engineering OP-Z Volume Potentiometer Replacement

Written By: Tobias Isakeit

Comments: 0

Teenage Engineering OP-Z Volume Potentiometer Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

45 minutes - 1 hour

Introduction

Use this guide to replace the volume potentiometer of your OP-Z.
In case the defect was caused by a drop then the volume knob was probably damaged too. This guide will also show how to replace the knob which can be purchased separately.

Tools

Parts

OP-Z Volume Pot

Step 1

Unlock the four rubber feet by turning them 90° counterclockwise using your thumb or finger tip.
There is a tiny mark on every foot facing the bottom edge of the OP-Z. After turning them they should face towards the short edge where the on/off switch is.

Step 2

When turning the OP-Z over again the bottom plate should come off by itself (thanks gravity).
If the bottom plate won’t come off you might want to make sure every foot is rotated correctly and gently tug on one of them.

Step 3

Remove the bottom plate including the rubber feet.

Step 4

Use your fingernail or a spudger to lift the battery on the right side where the notch is.

Step 5

Remove the battery.
When installing the new battery make sure you put it in contact side first.

Step 6

Use your finger or a spudger to push up on the small tab on the bottom of the module.
Lift the module up and out of its recess bottom first.

Step 7

Remove the module.
When inserting another module make sure you put it in outputs first. Then push down the bottom part for the tab to engage.

Step 8

Remove the five Torx T4 screws.

Step 9

Place a spudger in the cutout of the extension module to lift the midframe.
Be careful not to damage the highway flex cable underneath.
Don’t remove the midframe yet. It is still connected to the rest of the OP-Z.

Step 10

Flip the midframe over to gain access to the flex cable connector underneath.

Step 11

Use the flat end of a spudger to disconnect the flex cable from the front panel assembly.

Step 12

Use a spudger to disconnect the highway flex cable from the DSP board.

Step 13

Use the spudger to disconnect the flex cable from the encoder board.

Step 14

Slowly pry the USB-C connector out of its recess. Use the flat end of a spudger on the small nib on the USB-C board.
The connector is slightly glued down.

Step 15

Insert the pointy end of the spudger into the line-out jack and lever it up carefully.
The jack connector might sit tight and is slightly glued down.

Step 16

The highway flex cable is slightly adhered to the midframe. To remove it, gently push it out from underneath.
A small transparent part may pop out. This is the light guide for the bluetooth indicator. Just hinge it back onto the midframe as seen here.

Step 17

Peel the highway flex cable off the midframe and remove it.

Step 18

Use one arm of a tweezer to lift the small black flap of the ZIF connector.

Step 19

Use a pair of flat nose tweezers to pull the small flex cable up and out out the ZIF connector.
When reassembling make sure to insert the flex cable all the way.