Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: fdesalvo on June 21, 2012, 12:45:22 pm

Title: Tube clamp dilemma
Post by: fdesalvo on June 21, 2012, 12:45:22 pm

I'm in a bit of a bind  :l2:   :dontknow:

The two types of bear trap clamps don't fit due to my mounting hole spacing and I think I'm going to have to go with a spring retainer becasue of its independant mounting tabs.  The trouble is that the heads of the machine screws used to mount the octal sockets are actually a fraction of an inch taller than the base of the sockets themselves (panheads *just clear*) and the tube bases are sitting on top of these, not allowing them to be fully seated on the socket.  The difference is minute, but enough to where I could pivot the tubes off the screw heads.  Mainly this issue is with the NOS 5U4GB which has a wider base than the 6L6s.

If I use a tube retainer of some sort, it will mount below the screws, making them interfere even more.  So is my only option mounting spring retainers on their own machine screws?

Thanks!

Edit!  One can rotate the bear trap and not use the socket hardware.. :doh!

Title: Re: Tube clamp dilemma
Post by: LooseChange on June 22, 2012, 05:02:53 am

Hate those bear traps.
I don't use them ever. The tube socket combined with the center pin should hold them in just fine. Even if they are tubes down.

Title: Re: Tube clamp dilemma
Post by: fdesalvo on June 22, 2012, 08:52:37 am

Thanks man. My chassis is tubes up, so I shouldn't stress. 

Title: Re: Tube clamp dilemma
Post by: LooseChange on June 22, 2012, 09:15:00 pm

Yeah. No need with tubes up. Looks better too.

Title: Re: Tube clamp dilemma
Post by: fdesalvo on June 22, 2012, 09:42:14 pm

Thanks, Dan!  Totally agree- nekkid tubes.