a twreck build started - questions

[rockstah]

so a friend of mine recently decided to stop building amps - i purchased a bunch of parts from him. the main reason for the sale was he started a trainwreck " francesca " - i have wanted to build one.

i have a question on how the trannys mount.

heyboers
PT IS hts-5199
the chassis says HTS 5200 my OT says 11415-1 - is this the right OT?

anyway if you look closely you will see the screws for the power board mounts stick up. when i go to install the trannys they run into the screws and the groumets.

is this a legit chassis?

is there a spacer between trannys a chassis?

do i need different end bells?

are these the right trannys for Francesca?

any help appreciated.

Mark

[img:161:120]http://f5.putfile.com/thumb/8/24113035599.jpg[/img]

[img::]http://f5.putfile.com/thumb/8/24112590532.jpg[/img]

[img::]http://f5.putfile.com/thumb/8/24113023949.jpg[/img]

[img::]http://f5.putfile.com/thumb/8/24113004426.jpg[/img]

[img:161:120]http://f5.putfile.com/thumb/8/24113044665.jpg[/img]

[UR12]

so a friend of mine recently decided to stop building amps - i purchased a bunch of parts from him. the main reason for the sale was he started a trainwreck " francesca " - i have wanted to build one.

i have a question on how the trannys mount.

heyboers
PT IS hts-5199
the chassis says HTS 5200 my OT says 11415-1 - is this the right OT?

Yes these are Moose's trannys. they are the correct ones.

anyway if you look closely you will see the screws for the power board mounts stick up. when i go to install the trannys they run into the screws and the groumets.

is this a legit chassis?

Yes, it looks like one of Nick's chassis. The screws that mount the power board and end up underneath the tranny will have to be countersunk screw head screws. You will need to countersink the holes for it to fit properly.

is there a spacer between trannys a chassis?

Franchesca had 2 pieces of wooden dowel, one between the trannys and one underneath the trannys inside the chassis for support. Nik's chassis are a little stronger than the ones Ken used (Probably a hammond) and may or may not be omitted depending on how flimsey your chassis is.

do i need different end bells?

No

are these the right trannys for Francesca?

Yes, The PT has a 260v winding and a 290v winding. Use the 290v one for an express (El34s) and the 260v for EL84s used in the liverpool and rocket. The OT has a 5200 ohm primary and a 6600 ohm primary. Some people like the 6600 and some like the 5200. You'll just have to try each and see which one suits your ears.

Best of luck on your build and all of us are behind you if you need help.

BTW I am no longer making perfboard to order. I may make a few set to sell in the next few weeks. I wil post them for sale when I get them built.

[rockstah]

thanks for the answers UR12!

what about the holes for the wires off the trannys- anyone have a size on how big these holes are? - the current holes wont work for the trannys - they are too small.

thanks again,

Mark

[UR12]

thanks for the answers UR12!

what about the holes for the wires off the trannys- anyone have a size on how big these holes are? - the current holes wont work for the trannys - they are too small.

thanks again,

Mark

There are two holes for the PT in your chassis and you will only need the one closest to the end of the chassis. That one will have to be made bigger to accomodate all of the wires coming out of one side of the tranny.

[rockstah]

so which way do the trannys go?

pic#1

[img:161:120]http://f5.putfile.com/thumb/8/24115475367.jpg[/img]


pic #2


[img:161:120]http://f5.putfile.com/thumb/8/24115465661.jpg[/img]

[UR12]

Pic #2 speaker outs to the back and primary wires towards the front (middle of the chassis)

[rockstah]

Pic #2 speaker outs to the back and primary wires towards the front (middle of the chassis)

thank ya!

[rockstah]

hey UR12 - check me out!

[img:161:120]http://f5.putfile.com/thumb/8/24117484890.jpg[/img]

[img:161:120]http://f5.putfile.com/thumb/8/24117494069.jpg[/img]

[img:161:120]http://f5.putfile.com/thumb/8/24117504275.jpg[/img]

i notice in "francesca1" folder here on the forum the screws on pt and ot endbells are the opposite way i have them - maybe have to turn the screws around?

[img:160:120]http://f5.putfile.com/thumb/8/24117561480.jpg[/img]

thanks!

Mark

[UR12]

Mark

The bolts holding the trannys infact do need to be put in from the bottom of the chassis, at least the two next to the stack of filter caps. There is just enough room to get the filter caps installed if you use the original size caps like the TV series and by having the heads of the screws on the inside of the chassis it gives you a little more clearance of the stack-o-caps. Personally, I would go with the smaller physical size filter caps like the Illinois capacitor or Rubicons. The reason I say this is that the old Mallary and Spragues like Ken used had a lower temperature rating and something like 20 or 30% tolerance. The newer smaller caps have better ratings and they will fit without having to reverse the bolts. I have used both and can not see any difference in performance. So unless you just want to build an "EXACT" copy of Franchesca you might want to consider the smaller size caps. Just my 2 cents...............

[rockstah]

Mark

The bolts holding the trannys infact do need to be put in from the bottom of the chassis, at least the two next to the stack of filter caps. There is just enough room to get the filter caps installed if you use the original size caps like the TV series and by having the heads of the screws on the inside of the chassis it gives you a little more clearance of the stack-o-caps. Personally, I would go with the smaller physical size filter caps like the Illinois capacitor or Rubicons. The reason I say this is that the old Mallary and Spragues like Ken used had a lower temperature rating and something like 20 or 30% tolerance. The newer smaller caps have better ratings and they will fit without having to reverse the bolts. I have used both and can not see any difference in performance. So unless you just want to build an "EXACT" copy of Franchesca you might want to consider the smaller size caps. Just my 2 cents...............

check it out -
hows it look?
i have read Gerald Weber and Kevin O'connor both say stay away from illinois caps - im going to go with either sprague or f&t -

- [img:161:120]http://f5.putfile.com/thumb/8/24119164773.jpg[/img]

Mark

[UR12]

check it out -
hows it look?
i have read Gerald Weber and Kevin O'connor both say stay away from illinois caps - im going to go with either sprague or f&t -

- [img:161:120]http://f5.putfile.com/thumb/8/24119164773.jpg[/img]

Mark

Great so far! Interesting comments regarding Kevin and Gerald. Did they say why?. I have never owned or read any of their books. I have the utmost respect for both of these guys but wonder if there may have been a point in time when they didn't like ICs an maybe things have changed since then. Anyway, you can't go wrong with the Spragues or F&Ts but if it were me I would go with the F&Ts.

[rockstah]

check it out -
hows it look?
i have read Gerald Weber and Kevin O'connor both say stay away from illinois caps - im going to go with either sprague or f&t -

- [img:161:120]http://f5.putfile.com/thumb/8/24119164773.jpg[/img]

Mark

Great so far! Interesting comments regarding Kevin and Gerald. Did they say why?. I have never owned or read any of their books. I have the utmost respect for both of these guys but wonder if there may have been a point in time when they didn't like ICs an maybe things have changed since then. Anyway, you can't go wrong with the Spragues or F&Ts but if it were me I would go with the F&Ts.

thanks man!

yeah both have talked just about the quality of those caps not being good. i have read that sprague are good caps as well as F&T.

im excited to build this amp!

[topnotch]

Does anybody know what that tube running between the ot and pt is for?

[UR12]

Does anybody know what that tube running between the ot and pt is for?

It is a wooden dowel that has been inserted between the trannys in a effort to keep the weight of the trannys from caving in the chassis. There is another inside the chassis that supports the trannys from below. I can't say for sure but I would guess that Ken used a stock Hammond chassis that wasn't all that sturdy. If you go with a heavier guage aluminum chassis they are probably not needed.

[topnotch]

Dana,
Thanks for clearing that up.

Phil