CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[Tim in Phoenix]

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Guys

Corroded pitted housings should be discarded; I have one here that turns the glycol into iced tea and it is not a steel rust issue, it is aluminum.

Having rebuilt fifteen or so tubes in the last year, I can recommend some things.

Tubes old enough to need bellows will likely have the bellows stuck hard to the C element. I use an Exacto knife with two inch blade to cut the bellows in half; otherwise it is very tedious to undo eighteen alien screws that are hard to reach. Be careful with the knife, you don't want to scratch the C elements.

Do scrape off all of the old rubber bellows; it will stick to the housing and the C element lens. Razor blades are helpful. Clean the glycol chamber thoroughly; household ammonia works good. Flush with distilled water. Handle the C element lens carefully, it is lucite and is easily scratched. Clean with windex and soft cloth if necessary.

Run the new bellows through your dishwasher, no soap, no heat in the dry cycle. There may be mold release stuff on the rubber that will mess up the new glycol.

Use new glycol. Triethylene glycol can be found at chemistrystore.com. Each tube uses about 22 fluid ounces. If you are a few ounces short you can add distilled water to glycol up to ten percent. Squeeze bottles with fine tips are good for filling water or glycol, Ebay has them under tattoo shop supplies.

Reassemble with stainless steel allen screws, especially the fill holes. Leak test the tubes with distilled water. I tighten the screws holding the bellows to the housing, there are eighteen on each tube, in three stages as you are compressing the rubber when tightening. Start with finger tight, let it sit two hours. Tighten more, wait two hours. Tighten firm. Same with the front C element retaining screws Then leak test. If you bend the metal oval retainer it may cause leaks. Do not mix up the lens barrel mounting screws with the C element ring screws; the lens screws are longer and would likely puncture the bellows.


Those who are not wanting to tackle this stuff can send me their tubes for rebuilding, $195 and return shipping each.

Good luck!



Tim Martin, E-Tech Systems Scottsdale

480 253 2781 please text me first

[CIR Engineering]

Nice tips Tim. When I clean celements, i put them under running waster and use regulars dish soap with just my hands. Do not apply pressure or use anything to scrub with. No sponges or paper towels, just hands with a light touch.

Make sure you get all the water off when you're done. you can pat dry with dust free rags or even paper towels. They key is to pat and not wipe. Wiping will scratch.

Best,
craigr