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Original Message

RE: Changing electrolytics in Audio Research D115

Posted by Karma16 on June 26, 2009 at 12:59:46:

HI Bambi,
Since your level of expertise is, self-proclaimed, to be weak, I'm going to suggest a very conservative approach.

As suggested by others, test the electrolytics before replacing them. My D250 Mk II Servo is about 20 years old and the electrolytics are perfectly fine. True, I have been using the amp and you have not. Plug it in, speakers and preamp attached, and see what happens. If a fuse blows or you get hum then you should replace them. I think the odds are good that they are OK. If you have problems then check back in.

As for the pots, they can be cleaned. Use Caig Deoxit D5 only. It is great and the others don't work. Take it from somone who has cleaned thousands of contacts in my repair shops. Order on-line from MCM Electronics. Accept no substitutes. Everyone should have a can of this wonderful stuff.

If the pots have an access hole on the lead side closest to the circuit board, you must spray the cleaner in the hole then work the shaft from one stop to the other. Do this numerous times then spay more cleaner in and repeat.

If you can't gain access to the hole, or if there are no holes (the pots are sealed), you have some decisions to make. If they have holes, the pots can be removed for cleaning then reinstalled. The problem is your inexperience is working against you. You could ruin the pots or the circuit board.

Or, you could decide to shake some hard earned money loose and take the preamp to a tech. Or, you could send it to ARC for repair and a complete checkout. This is probably the best solution for the best preamp in the world (except for the SP-11, of course (smile)).

I really don't understand the logic of trying to save money on this repair. It won't be terribly expensive. You have a classic. Why screw it up? Think about it carefully. Be sure to call Leonard first.

Sparky