6V6 tube pin #1 stuck in tube socket...help.

[Ben]

Hi,

Im a novice who doesnt know how to work on amps safely. That said i read a little bit online and thought I culd manage changing the tube in my fender reverb unit from a 6V6 to a 6K6 as this is a commonly suggested "mod". I have never changed a tube before but i read that you just pull them out, or rock gently to pull em out. This tube didnt wanna come out...eventually it did, but then i noticed that one of the pins had broken off and remains in the tube socket. PIn #1. A little bit of this pi is left sticking out of the tube socket. My question to you good people is how to safely remove it? Can I just pull it out with a needlenose pliers or wil i get zapped? once its out can i pop in the 6K6?

thanks in advance for the help.

[doctorvoltz]

Hi Ben,

Unplug the amp and pull the broken pin out with a needlenose pliers. If the amp has been turned off for several hours the filter caps will have discharged and you won't be in any danger of getting zapped. if you want to be extra, extra careful touch one end of a wire to the broken pin and the other end of the wire to any spot on the metal amp chassis before you pull the pin. Good luck on your project

[Ben]

Thanks doc.,

The remainder of the pin jumped up and into the socket when i touched it with a pair of insulated needlenosed pliers. How it could be stuck in there one minute and jump so freely up into the socket the next i dont understand. I tried to shake it out but no luck. Im not up for sticking anything up in that socket. So I think we need to open it up and seee whats going on. I will have a friend show me how to do that safely as soon as he's able.

Thanks for the help!