saving output tubes

gazza · Post by **gazza** » Sat Nov 14, 2009 1:01 pm

I have "saved" several rca bp tubes with varies problems (including no filament) by resoldering the pins on the tubes. of course if the tubes are low emission arcing e.t.c there is nothing that can be done.

LarryN · Post by **LarryN** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 5:44 am

I'll have to try that. I would have never thought of that. Thank you.

j-po · Post by **j-po** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:31 pm

You've done what? Heated the pins with a soldering iron to reconnect internal connections?

Or soldered broken pins onto the remaining stubs?

gazza · Post by **gazza** » Sun Nov 15, 2009 8:16 pm

re-soldered the actual pins of the tubes, I have "saved" many tubes which I would have thrown away! Try it you have nothing to loose!

Structo · Post by **Structo** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 5:25 pm

Hmmm, never done that.

I have never had a pin come loose.
But I have broken off the center index pin on power tubes before.

gazza · Post by **gazza** » Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:47 pm

The 1st time I came across this I had intermittent filament (we call them heaters over here) re-soldering the pins of the tube & it was fixed! it tested o.k after several hours test.

j-po · Post by **j-po** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:02 am

Intermittent? So the pin was not actually broken. Am I correct to assume that you applied solder to the surface of the pin to get rid of oxidation?

greiswig · Post by **greiswig** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:17 pm

Once, long ago, I tried this to a 12AX7 pin that had partially broken off. It proved to be an excellent way for inserting an irretrievable broken pin into the socket.

gazza · Post by **gazza** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 9:23 pm

in answer to j-po, yes re-soldering the ends of the pins, a pin had not broken off.

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