Air brake problems

Express, Liverpool, Rocket, Dirty Little Monster, etc.

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bkorthals
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Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:46 pm

Air brake problems

Post by bkorthals »

I am having issues with my air brake. It works but it seems that there is no controlling the attenuation. It is just very very quiet on all settings. Any suggestions?
bkorthals
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Re: Air brake problems

Post by bkorthals »

Here are some pics.
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M Fowler
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Re: Air brake problems

Post by M Fowler »

bkorthals,

Shouldn't the two wires going to the center of the Lorling Rotary switch be reversed?

I checked all other wires and it looks good otherwise. The half of the switch for sector 1 to 5 should go to right side of 100 watt resistor and the other sector 7 to 10 go to tip of speaker jack.

Mark
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M Fowler
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Re: Air brake problems

Post by M Fowler »

Never mind you have it right. It should work just the way you have it wired. The sliding lugs are not touching the chassis right? I did that and rewired the whole darn thing twice before I knew it. But yours looks like it is elevated off the chassis in pictures.

Mark
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stubbyfex
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airbrake problems

Post by stubbyfex »

Hello!
I just finished mine a few days ago. I had no output also. Then I took my ohm meter and hooked it between the input jack "hot" and the output jack "hot", and rotated the switch. The meter showed open, or infinity. I finally tracked the problem down to the variable resistor. I had to sand the "coil" of resistance wire to get the sliders to make contact. I used a fine file, and it took quite a bit of filling too. After doing it, the wires were quite bright looking as opposed to the dark color before I started. I also used 1/4" non insulated press on female quick connects to hook the wires up to the sliders.
Now it works and sounds fine. There is just a small amount of loss of highs when it is in use. I can compensate by turning the treble pot up about one number.
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M Fowler
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Re: Air brake problems

Post by M Fowler »

Yeah it seems we should warm new builders to sand lightly on the variable resistors and lugs to get good contact as this has been a problem lately.

Mark
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angelodp
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Copy that

Post by angelodp »

Yes indeed, I had to sand mine as well. I checked it before installing, and it works fine.

ange
BDC
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Re: Air brake problems

Post by BDC »

+1 on the sanding.......
tube tone south
redshark
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Re: Air brake problems

Post by redshark »

Yes I just finished mine and it probably needs to be sanded to make better contact. What do you guys use to lightly sand the resistor?
Mine has another little problem, when I am on the bedroom settings and I get close to the air brake to change the bedroom volumes it squeals a little and then once I get away from it the unit is quiet again. I though that was only gonna happen with the express but it did the same when playing my JTM45 clone as well.
BDC
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Re: Air brake problems

Post by BDC »

20 grit sand paper or finer should work fine-or a fairly equivelant file..
tube tone south
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Structo
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Re: Air brake problems

Post by Structo »

20 grit is way too coarse. (not even sure they make it)
Maybe you meant 200?
Tom

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danotron
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Re: Air brake problems

Post by danotron »

Make sure your switch isn't buggered from applying too much heat while soldering...its easy to do......

And 320 grit sand paper.....
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