What are the signs of a REQUIRED crossover rebuild?

[ATYFP]

'61 two-speed Leslie 45 w/intermittent distortion that seems to impact the horn more than
other sections of the cabinet.

Thanks!!


[NOTE: This request for information was posted to another group that seems to be less active. As a result, I am posting here in hopes of gaining insight.]

[sfp1954]

Paper wax caps are only good for 15 years or so.
If your caps are original your crossover point has probably drifted down from the original 800Hz to about 400-500Hz (or worse).
So you horn is getting frequencies it can't reproduce without distortion and your woofer isn't seeing all the signal it should be.
If you keep using it you will fry the voice coil on the horn.
Recapping is very simple. Remove the soapbar and replace with four caps (two each in parallel to get the original values.)

I used these in my 22H:
$19 with shipping.

http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-...capacitors.cfm

8.2 + 4.3 in parallel = 12.5
2.2 + 5.6 in parallel = 7.8

027-415 Dayton Audio DMPC-2.2 2.2uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor
027-419 Dayton Audio DMPC-4.3 4.3uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor
027-425 Dayton Audio DMPC-5.6 5.6uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor
027-426 Dayton Audio DMPC-8.2 8.2uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor

[gtc]

I used these in my 22H:
$19 with shipping.

http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-...capacitors.cfm

^ link has gone bad.

Here's the page I think you want:

http://www.parts-express.com/cat/met...apacitors/1382

[ATYFP]

Thanks, guys! That's the information I need. Now, to proceed with the rebuild. Here's another question, however....
I have my Leslie connected to the AO-28 preamp of the A-100. After rebuilding the crossover, should I also get a bit more bass to the 15" speaker in addition to cleaning up the treble frequencies?

Thanks.

[gtc]

Thanks, guys! That's the information I need. Now, to proceed with the rebuild. Here's another question, however....
I have my Leslie connected to the AO-28 preamp of the A-100. After rebuilding the crossover, should I also get a bit more bass to the 15" speaker in addition to cleaning up the treble frequencies?

Thanks.

Yes, as above, with fresh caps your woofer should see more of its assigned bass frequency range signal.

[andyg]

You won't get any more of the pedal fundamentals but you should get some more of the overtones so you'll probably hear the pedal lines more clearly. Want more bass? Connect to the A100's speaker outputs rather than the pre-amp - but with your collection, I'm sure you already know that! :)

[ATYFP]

Thanks, everyone. I believe after the Leslie crossover rebuild and a buss bar shifting on the A-100, my rig will remain delightful for quite some time.

[Mr. Kelly]

Have you performed your "surgery" yet? How did it go?

I've never replace caps before. Is it just a matter of de-soldering, inserting and re-soldering? Can the caps be oriented either way?

[gtc]

I've never replace caps before. Is it just a matter of de-soldering, inserting and re-soldering? Can the caps be oriented either way?

A certain type of capacitor called "electrolytic" is usually polarized (has a positive and negative terminal) and so needs to be connected the correct way around.

The following picture shows how a modern electrolytic capacitor has its negative terminal marked by a black band down the side of its body:



Other capacitor types are non-polarized so their connection direction is not important.

Note that there are also non-polarized electrolytics, but you are more likely to come across the polarized version.

[TheAdmiral]

Leslies used non-polarized caps.

[torea]

Leslies used non-polarized caps.

Yep. At the correct values, you're likely to find the non-polarized electrolytics for a cheaper price, although there are some other options that may cost more but will probably last a little longer. I used poly films in one crossover, electrolytics in another, don't really hear a big difference.

[ATYFP]

Have you performed your "surgery" yet? How did it go?

I've never replace caps before. Is it just a matter of de-soldering, inserting and re-soldering? Can the caps be oriented either way?

The "surgery" went quite well, as the crossover rebuild allowed for everything the others described: clearer bass response and an appreciation for midtones that emanate from the console through the Leslie. I mean there is a a night-and-day difference in clarity.

My friend Mark performed the crossover rebuild for me, as I have had many work hours lately that would not allow me to even do this simple project. He, at my request, used Solen caps. The result is simply AMAZING, as the previous caps were the original ('61 Leslie 45).

- - - Updated - - -

Have you performed your "surgery" yet? How did it go?

I've never replace caps before. Is it just a matter of de-soldering, inserting and re-soldering? Can the caps be oriented either way?

The "surgery" went quite well, as the crossover rebuild allowed for everything the others described: clearer bass response and an appreciation for midtones that eminate from the console through the Leslie. I mean there is a a night-and-day difference in clarity.

My friend Mark performed the crossover rebuild for me, as I have had many work hours lately that would not allow me to even do this simple project. He, at my request, used Solen caps. The result is simply AMAZING, as the previous caps were the original ('61 Leslie 45).