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Post subject: Re: Basket case or treasure? All original '67 Showman SF
Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 3:48 pm
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T2Stratman wrote:
...the worst that can happen is I have to send it off to you or Retroverbial to make it work!


LMFAO!!!

:lol:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Basket case or treasure? All original '67 Showman SF
Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 10:15 am
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T2Stratman wrote:
...the worst that can happen is I have to send it off to you or Retroverbial to make it work!


I would love to do another tweed. Makes me think, maybe... later this Spring... look at EBay...

:lol:


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Post subject: Re: Basket case or treasure? All original '67 Showman SF
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 6:53 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
T2Stratman wrote:
...the worst that can happen is I have to send it off to you or Retroverbial to make it work!


I would love to do another tweed. Makes me think, maybe... later this Spring... look at EBay...

:lol:


Beemer....Spring came early huh?

For the OP...how goes the refurb on the Showman?

T2

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Post subject: Re: Basket case or treasure? All original '67 Showman SF
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:24 am
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T2Stratman wrote:


For the OP...how goes the refurb on the Showman?

T2


That's a great question!
I've been reading a lot, talking to a lot of experienced amp gurus (locals included). I even spoke with Gerald Weber on the phone and considered sending it off to Kendricks to have repaired. The locals that have laid eyes on it all agree that its bordering on the value vs. cost-to-repair margin even though its very rare (single showman SF's were only made the one year I guess). Its not worth having an experienced tech fix it (nor does anyone want too it seems). At any rate, this is going to be a big, time-consuming project for me. So much so that I'm considering starting a blog to document my progress :shock:

I'll do it. I have more motivation than time though so hopefully this doesn't become one of those projects that sits so long that I loose interest.

Here's a bit of intel for those interested: There's a local amp repair guy that I took it to to have looked at. These early fenders are his pride and joy so to say that he knows a thing or two about this Showman is an understatement. One of the first things he said was, "Oh, your transformer caught fire.."
Wait, what? ok, I knew it let the smoke out but "caught fire"? that's a little extreme dontcha think?
Then he flips it over and examines the power tube sockets and noticed scorch marks across pins 2&3 of the middle two power tubes. He pointed this out and said, Yeah, you had a flyback event occur that arc-shorted across these pins and sent a few thousand volts into your power transformer and choke.
He ohm'd out the PT and choke and both were bad. The OT checked out good though so that was a relief.
The concern is that burning PT left residue (in some places a very thick residue) that may be conductive. His recommendation is to pull each component and lay down new fiberboard and consider installing some flyback diodes.

At any rate, this is going to be a project to say the least.


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Post subject: Re: Basket case or treasure? All original '67 Showman SF
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:57 am
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oKors wrote:
The concern is that burning PT left residue (in some places a very thick residue) that may be conductive. His recommendation is to pull each component and lay down new fiberboard and consider installing some flyback diodes.


A wise course of action. The last thing you want is a reoccurrence of a catastrophic event. I would trust that tech's skill over those guys at Kendricks any day.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Basket case or treasure? All original '67 Showman SF
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 11:41 am
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"Then he flips it over and examines the power tube sockets and noticed scorch marks across pins 2&3 of the middle two power tubes. He pointed this out and said, Yeah, you had a flyback event occur that arc-shorted across these pins and sent a few thousand volts into your power transformer and choke.

He ohm'd out the PT and choke and both were bad. The OT checked out good though so that was a relief.

The concern is that burning PT left residue (in some places a very thick residue) that may be conductive. His recommendation is to pull each component and lay down new fiberboard and consider installing some flyback diodes."


The amp seems to have several issues. Flyback current that can cause arcing between 2 & 3 is very bad. That means enough voltage came back to the 6L6GC anodes to jump the pins and travel into the heater supply. This may mean the heater section of the main power tranny is fried --- along with the line going to all the tubes and lamp.

You prolly need to check all sockets for any damage from this event. Esp since it fried your choke. That means the HV went into the B+ rail, too. So, all caps and resistors on the main power rail are suspect. As well as the anode connection to all the tubes.

I remember Jerry's Showman seemed to have a similar catastrophic event. It actually fired all the heater wires. That was a difficult amp to resurrect.

I hope all goes well with your amp and the fixes needed. Keep us informed! :)


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Post subject: Re: Basket case or treasure? All original '67 Showman SF
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 12:26 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
This may mean the heater section of the main power tranny is fried...


He already determined that the power tranny was toast.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Basket case or treasure? All original '67 Showman SF
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 12:57 pm
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Yeah, may have some heater line as well as B+ line issues, too.

:(


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Post subject: Re: Basket case or treasure? All original '67 Showman SF
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 2:07 pm
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+1000

I would shitcan all of it and start with fresh HV wiring all around.

Arjay

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