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Restoring Altec A7-500's. Project going well until I attempted to remove a woofer. Removed 4 bolts and speaker remained stuck in place to back board. How can I remove speakers without damaging them. I would have to refinish the cabs with them in place and covered with plastic, front and back. Also if left in place, the original tar/sealant around the cone sticks to everything. Anyone have an idea? Much appreciation.
Jimmy-time
The hardware stores sell something called a "painters tool" which is a sharpened putty knife looking contraption with a point on one side and a circular notch for cleaning rollers. That should let you carefully cut the stuck on paint away from the cork gasket by inserting it along the circumference. Good luck.
I always smear a little Vasaline on gaskets to keep them from sticking in the future although I have never done this to a speaker gasket yet, only car parts, because I have never reinstalled a speaker. :)
Do your cabs have the removable back panel at the top ? If so the cork gasket around the front of the frame is stuck.. I wouldn't restore the cabs until you remove the woofers...
If you have a very thin putty knife or a 5-in-1 painters tool work around the very outside of the frame on the woofer gently twisting to pry it off.. Be careful and take your time not to hit the cone or bend the frame.. If you work all the way around that edge it should come loose..And be ready to catch it as it may just pop off after a certain point... Do you have some photos ?
EDIT: Never fails as I post something someone always seems to beat me to the punch ! I need to get that Dragon software so I can speak my thoughts instead of typing... :p Sorry VH
No worries AB, you explained it better anyway.
Its a good idea. Thanks for sharing it. I think if it is applied to the area on the baffle board where the driver comes into contact with it, any contaminating effect if at all is there, will be greatly minimized.Quote:
Originally Posted by VolvoHeretic
Awesome information. I thought I was doomed. I tightly fitted heavy plastic around the front and back section of each speaker and did the majority of the prep work on the cab but could not finish around the woofer opening. I will try your method this evening to remove the woofer as I have the 5 in 1 tool. I will start a post/thread with pictures as I have an amazing Altec Voice of the Theater find, and have documented the restoration process on camera. Thanks, Jimmy-time!
Thanks for the valuable information, really didn't want to destroy something that came to me intact from 46 years ago. Also curious if dusty cones can be cleaned? Will be posting my progress and photos. Thanks, Jimmy-time
Looking forward to them Jimmy !
If they're Altec woofers with doped surrounds that have been in place for a long time, the surround dope has probably migrated and re-set effectively gluing the gasket and part of the surround to the baffle. I wouldn't try to shove anything between the baffle and gasket without first softening with heat, a blow dryer on a medium setting works great for this. Usually a good even application of heat alone is enough, and no prying or tools are necessary.
Rather than using vaseline which can soak into the wood and paper gaskets a piece of aluminum foil or plastic wrap should do a better job of not having things stick together.
I will add this technique to my woofer removal attempt this evening. Wouldn't have thought of the blow dryer. Hopefully successful and not in the market for new woofers tomorrow. Ready for "Altec Surgery". Thank you.
I just yanked mine off and amazingly, the gasket stayed with the speaker along with pieces of plywood.
I clean dusty cones with a very slightly damp cloth.
Ron
Or if you can get your hands on one of those miniature vacuums for keyboards.Quote:
Originally Posted by RonSSS
I'm getting worried, we haven't heard the outcome of the removal attempt. : /
On bowtie427ss's advice I used the blow dryer technique. Success! By heating up gasket you loosen the glue and they pop off without damage to the speaker. Great advice. I noticed there is a glue glob only at the top of the speaker surround and no where else as though this glue was intended to overlap the surround in the original assembly. The second speaker was even easier knowing the glue to be heated was at the top only. Thanks everyone. jimmy-time
Removing them without issue is the most important thing.. Good News !
Is it "puddled" as if it ran there after the woofer was installed?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy-time
It's probably not glue, but rather the sealant used on the cloth surrounds. In the right combination of heat and humidity it can get soft enough to all migrate to one spot on the circumference of the surround and gasket especially when a little too much sealant may have been applied at the factory.
Glad you got them out successfully!
Yes gravity being what it is..I'm surprised it was at the top...Are you sure someone didn't rotate them recently... The cloth surround dope always migrates south ! Meaning at the bottom of the woofer..
Yes, you are correct about the position of the glue being at the bottom. The cabinets came to me in the configuration of the woofer on the bottom and the horn inside speaker up. I removed the horn and placed the cabinets with the woofer up. I plan on placing the horn on top. When the cabinets were turned around the labels on the woofer then appeared upside down. Thanks.
Glad you were able to "jimmy" them out....:p