How to Fix a Roland FD-8 Hi Hat Pedal Controller

The high hat controller for my Roland electronic drum kit stopped working so I'm going to show you how I ended up fixing it.

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[moxxichannel]

Thanks! Great video! I would suggest that anyone doing it, remove the jack BEFORE you try unplugging the ribbon cable as once that jack is off, you can simply pull it out without using a screwdriver - and insert the cable BEFORE you put it all back together as it just pushes in. Also, neither of my repair kits came with grease and I didn't have any, so I stole the grease from the old rubber for now and applied it.

[zearrocks]

Three years later and here you are helping another Dad fix HIS high hat pedal. I wasn't sure I could do it, bring it back to life but thanks to your video (removing that jack was key to getting the ribbon cable into that slot) it all worked out. Great to have that high hat back. Courage, you too can do it - if these two Dad's can then there's hope for all of us.

[JR-tltg]

2 years on and this video is still helping folks like me. Thanks buddy

[EricDeatrick]

I was able to fix mine using this video! I used your link to purchase the parts and I subscribed. Thank you! You saved me from buying a full replacement pedal.

[biochemistbrewery]

Thank you for posting - very useful. I just changed the rubber and it seems to have solved the problem for now. I’ve got the sensor pad as backup!

[guilhermino]

Best video for the sensor replacement! The angles were very helpful. Thanks!

[pkugel]

Excellent video. Bought a used Roland e-drum kit with a bad hi-hat. Replaced the parts just like shown with Amazon replacement parts. Works Great now. Thank you!!

[BrianHoff]

Thanks for the video. I'm not yet convinced the sensor is my problem (I can be wrong). For now I'm still focused on the rubber actuator. I bought the newer rubber version from Roland and it worked well for about a year. Now I'm back to a pedal that may / may not be consistent just like I had before I replaced the rubber actuator.
Nice job with your video. Good sound, lighting, editing.

[ListenGene]

Perfect demo. Worked like a charm. Noticed my ribbon didn’t seem to push in all the way. But it still works. So whatever! Thank you!!!

[Vanswithbenefits]

Thanks a ton for this. I unscrewed mine and all I had to do was spray out a decade of dust! Works again

[JimHickeyMusicLessons]

Thanks for posting this step by step. The repair kit worked great for my pedal.

[jsnow]

Super helpful! Thanks for walking it through.

[danzitoli]

Thanks for the info and link t buy. Funny thing is, I just needed to clean the sensor with some alcohol, also clean and regrease the rubber actuator to get it working again!
Saving the link for the new parts when needed though!

[michaelwest]

Thank you, Just what I was looking for 👌👌👍👍👍👍👍

[dartman]

I think this is what my pedal needs. Thanks for the video!👍😎🥁🎶

[DanH-]

Thank you so much for your tutorial. Worked perfectly 🎉 much appreciated.

[eDrumsInANutshell]

Hi dude! I saw your intro and thought, oh, this guy must have a lot of subs. Your footage looks awesome! Subbed!
So you write your are just a guitarist but your homepage shows more ... so you record also local bands?

I am just a drummer, and don't even records things.
I discovered edrums Xmas 2019. A cheap ekit for the kids and EZDrummer2 changed my "freetime" live. Damn. That is so good!
Now, using Superior Drummer 3.
Nontheless, I am deeper into music that ever. But still no output. But I came from acoustic drums to the ekit, DIYing midi controller, hihat controller, snare trigger, than switching to trigger2midi interface. Freaking out with midi remapping ... Then Cubase, VSTs, MIDI controller addicted, developping a very bad plug-in collecting syndrome, amp sims ... trying these with cheap guitars. Learning to teak these cheap guitars (fret polishing, intonation ), music theory, synth, sound design, mixing (soaked up the Dan Worrall and House of Kush videos), MIDI programming, ... because I cannot play guitar, or I mean I know the theory, the fretboard, but my finger are short sausages 🙂But, dude, I love the Impact Soundworks and Ample Guitars stuff. Together with Amplitube 5 it's awesome. At least to my ears.
And so... lots of evenings went by and I was having a ton of fun but ... nothing to show.

And today I was wondering why the FD-8 gives such a noisy signal... You know, the CC4 value is jumping. But I think it's still ok. It doesn't really change the openess...

Keep going, mate!
I will check out a few of your vids now.

[btmauto]

great video. I did the repair. Unfortunately I still have no connection. I'm thinking the jack doesn't work. I can't seem to find that part available or for sale anywhere.

[Menntes]

Before you go and buy the replacement kit, try this way as it worked flawlessly for me:
Remove the rubber, microwave for 30 seconds, add grease to both the rubber and the wheel and there you go!

[jonasbarry]

Awesome video! I bought a used pedal and I immediately used compressed air to blow all the dust out of it and I think I have an idea why it doesn't work now LOL