removing tube hold down (spring type)

[Tom Phillips]

I think that you should just rearrange the order of your planned events. Have the tech remove the chassis and then clean the cabinet after you bring it home without the chassis. The chassis and the cab are each best cleaned after they are separated anyway. Therefore, if your goal is to clean the chassis before you bring it to the tech you are better off learning to remove the chassis from the cab yourself than continuing with the unconventional path you are currently following.

[Justin Thomas]

If those screws are MACHINE screws, yes, there's a nut on the other side. But most likely they are self-tapping sheet metal screws. Problem is, you remove them, you remove the tube sockets, too.

Those sheet metal legs are VERY easy to bend. I have a Bassman 100 w. the same tubes and very similar tube retainers. I pull tubes without pulling the chassis all the time. I <don't> have the silicone inserts in mine, just bare metal against the tube glass. Amp got rocked hard and worked on every week for years like that, NEVER broke a tube, even when it took a dive to the floor.

If you use a FIRM grasp on top of the retainer and just slide it over the top, I bet you'll be fine. Otherwise, yes, pull the chassis yourself. It's 4 screws and the strain relief for the power cord. Very simple.

If you don't want to take either of these options, do as Tom suggested and take the whole thing in to the tech and let him remove the chassis.

Justin

Edit: PS: if it's any consolation, most techs, when asked, will reply, "no, it is not any cheaper if you just bring me the chassis without the cabinet..."

[Enzo]

Um, BEND IT. All you need is a little bit of flare on those metal tabs sticking down, then the whole top ring can slide off to the side. Trust me, I have been doing just that for decades.

I agree, just pull the chassis, if it was going to come out anyway. Why screw around trying to bat our heads against the wall just so we can pull the springs things off FIRST? If there is so little headroom you can't pull the spring clips off, then there probably isn't enough room to pull the tubes up and out of the sockets either.

If you want the tech to pull the chassis, just tell him you want to take the cabinet back home for cleanup.