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AR-3a: Is there a way to treat/condition the pots without taking the speaker apart?

mhjmhjones

mhjmhjones

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
The pots on my 3as are starting to give me some problems and I was wondering if anyone has had any luck rehabbing the pots without taking the speaker fully apart.

About two years ago, I recapped the speakers and rebuilt (disassembled, vinegar soak, cleaned, DeOxit & DeOxit contact conditioner) the pots. I'm hoping to avoid that whole process again so soon if I can.

Thanks in advance!
 
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I'd love to know if there is a way. I had a similar issue and put it off for weeks.
It didn't take very long once I surrendered to the inevitable.
 
mhjmhjones said:
The pots on my 3as are starting to give me some problems and I was wondering if anyone has had any luck rehabbing the pots without taking the speaker fully apart.

About two years ago, I recapped the speakers and rebuilt (disassembled, vinegar soak, cleaned, DeOxit & DeOxit contact conditioner) the pots. I'm hoping to avoid that whole process again so soon if I can.

Thanks in advance!
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Simple answer is no. Have you reviewed the AR-3a documents at classicspeakerpages.net?
 
Surgery is required! When removing the woofers, use a plastic putty knife and remove the squeezed out sealer, as much as possible, the use a metal putty knife to protect the baffle while using a flat blade screwdriver to wedge under the basket and carefully pry it upward. If you have the cloth surround woofers, protect the cab face surfaces before lifting it out, it’s very heavy. Actually make sure they are protected regardless.
After you remove the fiberglass you can pop off the pots lids for visual inspection. If the corrosion is minimal, you can clean them without removal from the cab. If there’s lots of green on the surfaces, then they need to be removed for cleaning and closer
 
mhjmhjones said:
I wonder how feasible it would be to rewire the pots onto the outside of the cabinet.
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I wouldn't do that. If you really never want to deal with the pots again, there's modern correct spec pots on fleabay, 30.00 a pop. Many have reported they work fine.
 
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I have installed a total of 18 of the modern pots mentioned above, in various AR speakers. Of the 20 purchased, one did not operate correctly. The seller very quickly sent a replacement. To date (after one year or less) they are all working perfectly.

I have also used L-pads in my own 2a speakers (before the modern closed-back replacements were available). Lower cost (about $7 vs $30), and for those who run their pots at the midpoint resistance or lower (that is, at mid-level output or higher), the L-pads will provide same performance. I've not met anyone I can think of who prefers to attenuate the mids and tweeters of these old ARs below the midpoint, although I am sure that there are some.

But, if you want to keep the speakers closer to original design, the modern pots seem a good solution.
 
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