Ruby Reverb spring repair

[chuckyfiche]

I have a Ruby Reverb Tank from a Rocktron Amp that has a slipped spring.

Basically - the ferrite bead is no-longer joined to the wire that connects it to the output transformer end. Nothing is broken - and I can easily slip the brass-tube at the center of the ferrite bead over the connection wire (it just won't stay there).

I don't know if this is a mechanical connection, solder connection or glue connection that let-go and I can't seem to find any support.

Rocktron support - while prompt - doesn't have the answer either.

Does anyone have any input on this? Yes, I understand a replacement can be had for $30USD - but this seems like a relatively straight-forward fix.

Photos at

http://www.mikesheppard.net/gallery....folder=gallery

Thanks,

Michael

[Jazz P Bass]

Reverb Tank Repair

The wire that connects to the spring typically goes through a rubber isolator grommet and then gets soldered into the little hole at the end of the brass tube.

[chuckyfiche]

Epoxy

I thought about the solder aspect - but it doesn't look like any of the others are soldered - and the brass-tube is bend around the spring as a 'hook'.

It almost looks as though the wire is epoxied to the brass tube in the ferrite bead.

Is this the case?

The photos explain this much-better than I do.

Thanks for the quick response.

Mike

[52 Bill]

I can't get your link to the photos to work.

The ferrite bead is the magnet in the system and should be centered in the field of the laminated pickup/driver core.

If it is loose and sliding on the spring wire, glue it back into position. The other end of the spring or the other springs should show you how and where.

[chuckyfiche]

Bad Link

Sorry - my fault for the bad link.

http://www.mikesheppard.net/gallery.php?album=RubyReverb&folder=gallery

So the Ferrite bead is glued? That's what I was beginning to suspect.

With what?

I have access to Hysol 1151 2-part epoxy . . . which is generally used in electronics as a potting agent . . .

Thanks for the response

[52 Bill]

Now I've seen the photos.

The ferrite bead is glued to a long thin wire. One end of the wire hooks to the spring, the other end of the wire threads through the end holder and is sometimes soldered to a brass tube.

The photo shows that the wire has broken off on the side of the ferrite bead that would normally be sent through the white end piece. Look into the white end piece and see if you can see the broken off piece of wire.

While you may be able to repair this, the time and trouble factor is far beyond the replacement cost of the tank.

[chuckyfiche]

Wire still there

I believe the wire is still there - if you check-out the full-size image you can see where I've included both in the shot.

http://www.mikesheppard.net/gallery/RubyReverb/DSCN2469.JPG

The ferrite bead cleanly slips right back-on the wire - but it obviously doesn't stay-there.

In this style of tank - there isn't a brass tube, either. It's just a plastic block holding the wire with a T-Hook at the back.

I agree - this may not be cost effective to repair if I had to start trying to solder little pieces of wire - but this looks as though the wire can be re-inserted into the ferrite bead - I just need to know how to keep them together. As well - there aren't a lot of places in Canada that deal with this type of equipment and ordering from the US has it's own inherent issues with shipping costs, etc.



Thanks again for looking - I really appreciate the feedback.

Michael

[52 Bill]

OK, you could try to glue it back together again. Try it, you have nothing to lose other than some time. You will have to find a way to remove the tension from the spring while the glue sets up.

In the olden days I would repair Hammond tanks by taking a short length of the thinnest guitar string I could find and replace the broken wire. But in modern tanks, the ferrite bead is glued and press fit to the support wire and cannot be removed easily.

All that being said, the resulting sound may or may not be as good as a new tank.

[chuckyfiche]

What Glue?

You're right, of course - I have nothing to lose!

But I guess the magic question has, and still is, what glue?

Thanks for the support.