Thanks for getting back so quick guys and for the great advice.
I've got a good idea what the problem is now. When i went to put
batteries in the 707 i noticed the contacts were a little corroded but
these cleaned off really easily with just some cotton buds and i
thought they'd be fine.
However, when i went back to check the contacts tonight after reading
your replies i noticed that at the edges where you have the little
holes where you can see up into the machine the contacts are corroded
up inside there too. Hopefully opening it up and cleaning these will
solve my problem.

Any tips on doing this and/or whats best to use

Thanks again for all your help,
Ciaran.

--- In tr-707@yahoogroups.com , "plutoniq9" <Plutonique9@...> wrote:
>
> Like Gregory said, it could be that the wires going from the batteries
> to the board are either disconnected/broken, or coroded from a battery
> leak....it's not always obvious, so the best way to check is with a
> continuancy meter from the battery terminals to the board.
>
> Also, looking at the schematics, the battery power first goes through
> diode "D9" before reaching the RAM, if that was bad....you wouldn't be
> getting any power to your RAM. A multimeter with a diode check would
> be able to test that.
>
> Good Luck!
>
> Ryan
>
> It's normal for all the junk paterns to fill memory when the RAM is
> not battery backed, 606's, 808's, 303's....they all do it too.
>
> --- In tr-707@yahoogroups.com , "gregory zifcak" <foleymachine@> wrote:
> >
> > i'm pretty sure it means the batteries aren't working for whatever
> > reason. if you've put fresh batteries in and it's still happening, the
> > battery wires might have come loose or something. i had one that did
> > this, and while it might be something very simple and obvious if you
> > open it, i couldn't figure out my problem at all. the wires were
> > obviously connected, and i couldn't see any problems in the circuit
> > paths. i just ended up backing everything up onto cassette and then
> > loading it back in before every show. it was actually quite reliable,
> > a lot less picky about levels than an mmt-8 with a similar problem. i
> > finally got a memory cartridge, which was a lot faster and less
> > nervewracking. you could use the cassette jack to back stuff up into a
> > computer audio recorder or minidisc too. there may be some type of
> > sysex, but i've never heard of it. my current machine doesn't have
> > this problem, but i mainly just improvise with it anyway.
> >
> > good luck,
> > greg
> >
> > --- In tr-707@yahoogroups.com , "imz0rro" <the_arm2@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi all,
> > > I recently bought a 707 and have had a bit of time lately to have a
> > > good play around with it. I've noticed is has problem with the
> > > internal memory in that it wont keep my patterns for very long
(i dont
> > > know how long exactly.. it'll keep them for 10 minutes but certainly
> > > not 10 hours). Now, the weird part is.. when i switch the machine on
> > > its filled with 'hits' thats is to say that all instruments are
being
> > > played at the same time and the grid is 'full'. It clears fine and i
> > > can get on with programming it but like i say it wont keep the
> > > patterns. I found out how to reset the unit and it went back to the
> > > default patterns and i thought that would be the end of it but yet
> > > again after some hours of being turned off, turning it back on the
> > > grid is 'full' again. I'd have thought if the internal battery was
> > > done then it'd just keep resetting itself back to the default rather
> > > than having this weird tendency to fill up the grid with every hit
> > > though maybe the weak battery is corrunpting the memory I've really
> > > no idea.. the first dealings i've had with this machine is when i
> > > bought it.. perhaps this is a common problem when the internal
battery
> > > dies
> > >
> > > Any help you guys could give me would be much appreciated.
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance,
> > > Ciaran.
> > >
> > > P.S. i HAVE put fresh batteries in the back since buying it ;)
> > >
> >
>