Dynaco-Doctor Forum

Welcome! Need support, you got it. Or share you ideas and experiences.

Return to Dynaco-Doctor Forum

Replacing Pots

169.244.143.119
Posted on November 4, 2009 at 05:18:13
lazaroffkevin@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 22
Location: Maine
Joined: May 27, 2009
 I was thinking that for christmas I could get my dad new potentiometers for his crusty old PAT-4.
What will I need?
Anyone know where I could find the right kinds?

RE: Replacing Pots, posted on November 6, 2009 at 14:19:26
lazaroffkevin@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 22
Location: Maine
Joined: May 27, 2009
 That's too bad.
I might be able to get one on ebay for -$100, but no reason why it should be in better condition than his.

The balance dial isn't that much of a problem I guess, I don't know when the last time it moved was, quite possibly 1967.

I will look into the volume control, does anyone maybe know the specs on the original?

RE: Replacing Pots, posted on November 7, 2009 at 10:28:13
GP49
Audiophile

Posts: 111
Location: No Cal
Joined: April 21, 2009
 If nothing else, at least clean the pots with a good contact cleaner. I like Caig's products, myself. In addition to the carbon resistance track, there is another set of contacts that connect the wiper to the center tap on the terminal board. They normally get "cleaned" by control rotation but if the balance control hasn't been turned since 1967...
GP49
RE: Replacing Pots, posted on November 6, 2009 at 09:37:21
GP49
Audiophile

Posts: 111
Location: No Cal
Joined: April 21, 2009
 The balance control is another of those "Made of Unobtainium" items that was custom made for Dynaco, since in effect it is a volume control operating only over half the control's rotation for each channel. Almost all balance controls are like that, since they are supposed to be "out of circuit" at their center position.

There are some good substitutes for the volume control, even some nice ALPS conductive plastic ones that were designed for printed circuit board mounting but can be direct-wired. Some even have a loudness control tap. Even if the threaded front-panel mounting is smaller than that on the original Dynaco, that's something that you can take care of with a little mechanical ingenuity.

As for specific sources, you'll have to do an Internet search or perhaps someone else can help. I usually look in my junkpile first. Once I replaced a PAT-4 volume control with an ALPS conductive plastic control that was in a blown-up Harman-Kardon integrated amp. That control was nicer than the amp that I found it in.
GP49

Page processed in 0.013 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2009, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ] [ Go Green ] [ Take5 ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]