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trouble shoot traynor yrm-1 reverb master

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  • trouble shoot traynor yrm-1 reverb master

    Looking for help troubleshooting a Traynor YRM-1 Reverb Master.

    Symptoms: when taken off standby, a hum is heard which get's louder and louder through the speakers then the circuit breaker blows.

    I'm new to repairing amps, have some small experience with electronics soldering and such. The tubes haven't been checked. I figure that should be done but where could I find tube testing where I am (San Francisco Bay Area)

    thanks!

  • #2
    Welcome to the board.

    Originally posted by linuxbass View Post
    Symptoms: when taken off standby, a hum is heard which get's louder and louder through the speakers then the circuit breaker blows.
    When you turn on the amp, watch the output tubes. They will be the largest tubes in the amp. As the hum begins, look for one or more of the tubes to begin "red plating" or overheating. This means that the large central metal plate inside the tube glass will slowly start to glow orange red.

    If this happens, shut off the power switch and note which tube did this.

    This problem could be caused by either the amp circuitry or by the tube itself.

    Let us know what you find out.

    Comment


    • #3
      Traynor amps typically use a bridge rectifier and the standby switch lifts the rectifier ground. So there should be no way for any voltage to be on the tubes unless that switch has failed in some strange way that is also causing the hum and the breaker to go open. So I'm going to guess it's the switch. Has the amp been dropped or banged (or loaned out with no reported incident) recently?

      Chuck
      "Take two placebos, works twice as well." Enzo

      "Now get off my lawn with your silicooties and boom-chucka speakers and computers masquerading as amplifiers" Justin Thomas

      "If you're not interested in opinions and the experience of others, why even start a thread?
      You can't just expect consent." Helmholtz

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Chuck H View Post
        Has the amp been dropped or banged (or loaned out with no reported incident) recently?

        Chuck
        It hasn't been used in quite awhile. It was opened at one point in late 2003 and myself and an electronic engineer looked it over. We saw the problem, shut it off, poked around in it a bit, powered it back on and it ran. So I think your on to something there Chuck. Perhaps a broken or loose switch. I'll open it up and see if I can tell if the switch is broken.

        Funny now that I think of it I seem to remember it smoking just a bit at one point when I used it back in 2000 for a rehearsal. Then it ran fine for awhile, then got shelved until I decided to hook it up in 2003 just to see if was working. It has been dragged around to all the places I've lived since 2000 which is about 6 different cities. I think the amp is from 1973 or so. Man it sounds great cranked up through a stack cab! I hope I can get it workin again.

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        • #5
          one more thing..

          The same symptom happens when the standby switch is off and the amp is just powered on. It will seem to warm up for a few seconds, the hum occurs and increases then the circuit breaker opens.

          Comment


          • #6
            Because Traynor used some unusual standby, fusing and other power supply curcuits I'm guessing there may be voltage on the main filter caps even when the amp is on standby. Your problem is most likely old filter caps and (not or) possibly the power tubes need replacement.

            Tubes aren't the only wear parts in your amp. The power supply filters have a lifespan of about fifteen years. This can be longer if the amp is in regular use and shorter if the amp is sitting around. Having an old amp in regular use and then sitting around for a decade is a worst case situation. No matter what else you do you need to replace the filter capaitors. Also look into the standby switch (could be fine) and the power tubes.

            Chuck
            "Take two placebos, works twice as well." Enzo

            "Now get off my lawn with your silicooties and boom-chucka speakers and computers masquerading as amplifiers" Justin Thomas

            "If you're not interested in opinions and the experience of others, why even start a thread?
            You can't just expect consent." Helmholtz

            Comment


            • #7
              traynor reverb master

              Just traded for a reverb master. does not work no lights no hums nothing. The circuit breaker looks well used,scratches pushed with a screw driver also one of the capacitors oxidized on one end with a powdery puddle under it .The amp has been sitting for 20 years. some of the screws were rusty pretty clean inside though. were do i start? Malcolm

              Comment


              • #8
                Have it overhauled...
                The farmer takes a wife, the barber takes a pole....

                Comment


                • #9
                  +1
                  That amp shouldn't be plugged in again until it's been serviced. It sounds like the amp has been siting because it's broken. And in more ways than one. Just replacing parts isn't enough at this point and could become costly if you aren't sure what to replace. Have it overhauled.
                  "Take two placebos, works twice as well." Enzo

                  "Now get off my lawn with your silicooties and boom-chucka speakers and computers masquerading as amplifiers" Justin Thomas

                  "If you're not interested in opinions and the experience of others, why even start a thread?
                  You can't just expect consent." Helmholtz

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Old amps that have been sitting idle for many years are alot like cars in that same situation. Say you buy a 73 Nova that's been sittin' in someones barn for 25 years untouched. The tires won't hold air, the hoses are dry rotted, tranny seals leak, and if you try to start the motor the fan belt breaks immediately. Old amps have parts in them that don't age well and must be replaced before the amp will run right/run at all.

                    A good tech can knock this out in no time and it shouldn't cost a fortune. Cheap insurance really...
                    The farmer takes a wife, the barber takes a pole....

                    Comment

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