Patchbay jacks

[jmstevens]

Hello friends! Does anyone else experience patch points getting loose after a while? The top row on a bay is easy to get to, but man, that bottom row is a bear.  Am I doing something stupid, missing something obvious, maybe a specialized tool exists?  Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
James

[jimlfixit]

Hi James
Yeah, this subject almost deserves a whole new topic debate.

In short, SSL patchbay screws, being steel, can react with an aluminium front panel over time as the chemical reaction kicks in.

It is extremely important that the right screwdiver is used (I am not kidding on this). You could have a Phillips or Superdrive screwdriver and it could be the wrong type and size for the screw. With the right screwdiver (look at the screw to find one that properly fits), press down hard and very slightly turn the screw. If this fails, you could ruin the screw head after a few tries.

To help, use some WD40 or whatever it is called where you live. Leave it to set for a few minutes beforehand and then try to release the screw. Perhaps remove the front clear ident strips to avoid any oil type substance leaking through to the front.

To make matters worse, SSL eventually used Locktite on the screws so they wouldn't come loose. This came about due to building consoles fitted in OB trucks like the one used for LiveAid (1984? which I worked on at the time for over 40 hours non stop). This, amongst other measures, was done due to the vibration effects in the trucks.

I haven't got time to deal with this now but pm me or, ideally send a direct email. Also, post a close up picture of your patchbay jacks so I can suss it out a bit. They may be later M&M jacks or Audioline (very early versions).

Hope this helps for the time being.

Regards from Jim Lassen (www.profcon.co.uk). Also on FACEBOOK

[jmstevens]

Thank you Jim! As always your posts are a virtual goldmine of information and wisdom. My main issue is attempting to tighten loose jacks on the bottom row of a bay. The only away I can see to get to the bottom row jack screws is to remove the jack above it, which at least for me seems to take the steady hand of a brain surgeon. It also seems counter intuitive to have to loosen and remove perfectly tight screws and compromise their integrity in order to gain access to the bottom row screws. Is there a better way, or do I just need to bite the bullet and dive in. Here's a pic of my bay.

[jimlfixit]

Hi Jim

Thanks for your response and comments. Your jacks are very early Audioline versions (probably up to 1982?) therefore, they have been fixed into the front panel for some 30 years and the chemical reaction between steel screws and an Aluminium panel makes them harder to change.

The screws used for these Audioline jacks were a mini countersunk 4:40 screw I think (replaced with a mini head M3 x 6mm Pozi drive pan head screw when SSL changed to Mosses and Mitchell jacks later on.

What can I suggest ... Mmm ... at the moment, I would say remove the top jack and, using the correct screwdriver which, as mentioned before, is very important, carefully unscrew the bottom jack. Apply some WD40 to help loosen it for a while and then press down hard and very, very slowly start to try and turn it anticlockwise.

If/when you manage to do this, you will get a feel for the task and can suss out how hard the other screws may be to undo. Look at the screw and see if it looks a bit blue which could indicate that Screwlock has been applied. If so, the task will be harder but, after 30 years, it's going to be difficult anyway.

I'll try and post some more on this and also show various suitable screwdrivers with the two screw types used.

Hope this helps for now ... a bit. No doubt that Marc Mozart could be useful on this subject as well.

For the record, I notice that your cables are not sleeved. Do you have any shorting issues with them as a result?

Finally, please let us all know where you are based (ie me ... High Wycombe, Bucks, UK). You can complete these details in your personal profile.

[walrus]

My main issue is attempting to tighten loose jacks on the bottom row of a bay. The only away I can see to get to the bottom row jack screws is to remove the jack above it,

This is the only way I have managed it so far.
I usually magnetise my screwdriver to stop losing the screw when it come out of the top one, then carefully pull the jack out and hold it to one side while tightening the bottom screw.
Another trick I found was to use some beeswax on the screwdriver tip to hold the screw tightly while navigating the driver with screw back into the top jack.

[jmstevens]

Thanks guys, looks like the only way is the hard way.  Such is life.  That's a good idea with the beeswax. And to think, if they would have just simply oriented the jack the opposite direction on the bottom bay this problem would not exist.  Back to surgery!

James