Broken tweeter

[acre]

Hi guys! I have a small problem. One of my 806-8A HF drivers isn't working. I opened it up and discovered that one of the leads has broken and needs to be re-soldered. The diaphram is in perfect condition and there is enough viable ends to make the connection. How is this done? It appears to be a small ribbon of copper and I've tried soldering these before with conventional solder and it failed. I just melted the lead. Perhaps I should give it to a qualified electronics repair shop? Thanks....Lee

[Todd W. White]

This is normal for the old-style leads - they flex to the point of breaking.

Altec fixed this in the 1980's with a different lead-in arrangement.

Your options:

1. Replace the diaphragm with a new one from Great Plains Audio.

2. Send it in to GPA for a rebuild.

Advantages of #2 over #1 = the work is guaranteed, as is the part, PLUS you get a remagnetization of the driver at no additional charge, something it probably needs by now.

PLUS you pay NO MORE for them to do it than if you bought the part and did it yourself, other than shipping, of course.

To me, it's a no-brainer: Ship it to Bill at GPA and let him do it. Then you know it's RIGHT

[bfish]

Do an archive search for;

repair diaphragm solder

Added;
Then get a new one.

<font color="#FFFFFF" size="1">[ February 09, 2008 06:50 PM: Message edited by: bfish ]</font>

[acre]

Many thanks guys. Where is GPA. I've heard talk of them (Bill) being fantastic at these things. I live 75 miles east of Toronto. Should I have both drivers sent? May as well.

[Todd W. White]

Oklahoma City

Would be wise to send both - that way they're the same.

www.greatplainsaudio.com

[dgwojo]

Those phragms are very delicate and easy to screw up during repair. Suggestion, if sending them to GPA for replacement and alnico magnet recharge, I'd remove the phragms before shipping and keep them and the loading caps home, most "original" phragms come back damaged in transit. I can explain more via e-mail if you like, let's just say the old ones are returned rendered useless due to hardware shipped in the same containers. I'd also request shorter diaphragm screws, no loading caps, and felt dampers in the rear covers, Bill usually has the correct felt for these. Here's a link on diaphragm repair, good luck, Dave.

Diaphragm Repair With Pictures

<font color="#FFFFFF" size="1">[ February 10, 2008 01:01 AM: Message edited by: dgwojo ]</font>

[acre]

Thanks to all who chimed in on this topic. I decided to ship these off to Bill today. Both drivers went. I had a chat with him by phone. Nice fellow and I am confident he'll restore these drivers to original factory specs or better. His prices are good and the shipping from the east side of Toronto to his place is $66.00 (Cdn), return. This is via UPS. I'll let you know how they sound when they return. Bill says less than a week. Talk soon....Lee