Repair: Tube Separated from Base
Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 10:53 am
Just sharing a repair tip, for when the glass of an output tube (6V6, 6L6, KT66, EL34, etc) becomes separated from its plastic base. A handful of times I've encountered condition where the tube is still operational but won't be for long as it is being held in place by the fine wires which connect the inside components to the base pins.
Required tools and supplies:
- Jewler's tiny blade screwdriver.
- 3" wide masking tape.
- Paper towels
- Small piece of wax paper
- 3" blue (low-stick) masking tape
- Permatex 'The Right Stuff' 90-minute gasket maker (Walmart, Auto Store, etc.)
1.) Insert a small blade screwdriver between the socket and the tube base and gently pry to remove the tube. Be careful not to move the glass.
2.) Using compressed air, remove dust and dirt from the contact area.
3.) Have some scraps of paper towels ready (this can be messy) and lay out a 3"x3" piece of wax paper for the adhesive compound.
4.) Apply a dab of Permatex 'The Right Stuff' 90-minute cure gasket sealer, onto the wax paper.
5.) Using the jeweler's screwdriver, grab a little gasket goop onto the tip and apply it into the gap between the tube glass and base. Think through each movement, because it is messy. Wipe away excess immediately using a clean paper towel. Spin and repeat until the whole tube base has been treated.
6.) Tear off a 12" piece of the masking tape and wrap the tube end-over-end, compressing the base onto the glass.
7.) Let sit over night before using.
An output tube glass surface can reach 250 degrees F and the gasket maker can handle temperatures up to 650 degrees F. The gasket maker is 'rubbery' and provides the added bonus of some vibration dampening to the glass and internals.
Just did a KT66 which would have cost $126 to replace and $256 to replace with a matched pair. Whew!
Required tools and supplies:
- Jewler's tiny blade screwdriver.
- 3" wide masking tape.
- Paper towels
- Small piece of wax paper
- 3" blue (low-stick) masking tape
- Permatex 'The Right Stuff' 90-minute gasket maker (Walmart, Auto Store, etc.)
1.) Insert a small blade screwdriver between the socket and the tube base and gently pry to remove the tube. Be careful not to move the glass.
2.) Using compressed air, remove dust and dirt from the contact area.
3.) Have some scraps of paper towels ready (this can be messy) and lay out a 3"x3" piece of wax paper for the adhesive compound.
4.) Apply a dab of Permatex 'The Right Stuff' 90-minute cure gasket sealer, onto the wax paper.
5.) Using the jeweler's screwdriver, grab a little gasket goop onto the tip and apply it into the gap between the tube glass and base. Think through each movement, because it is messy. Wipe away excess immediately using a clean paper towel. Spin and repeat until the whole tube base has been treated.
6.) Tear off a 12" piece of the masking tape and wrap the tube end-over-end, compressing the base onto the glass.
7.) Let sit over night before using.
An output tube glass surface can reach 250 degrees F and the gasket maker can handle temperatures up to 650 degrees F. The gasket maker is 'rubbery' and provides the added bonus of some vibration dampening to the glass and internals.
Just did a KT66 which would have cost $126 to replace and $256 to replace with a matched pair. Whew!