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Fascia end plates missing

Z

ziggydave

Active Member
Hi everyone.
I recently found a TU-666 tuner to match my AU-666 amp, and it is in fine working condition but is missing the two brushed alloy end plates/caps to the front. I'm not sure why they are missing, but of course I'd like to replace them. Has anyone faced this. Are they available. I could just make some out of alloy flat stock, but unsure how to attach them. I was going to try removing one from my amp, but I'm unsure how they are fixed and don;t want to damage anything. Help!
 
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The way they attach will make fabricating replacements tricky. I suppose one could try to attach the needed brackets to the inner face of each end block with aluminum soldering. Not sure any type of epoxy would be strong enough to do the job long term. Or countersink a couple of screws through the end, but that would obviously not look stock when viewed from the sides.

The visible portion of each piece could certainly be made from aluminum flat stock, though they'd have to be clear coated after texturing, unless you have the capability to do anodizing, or have an outfit locally that would do it.
 
Thanks for your help. Might I ask, how can the end plates be removed without damage? It's difficult to see how they have ended up going adrift!
 
I'd need to look again, has been a while since I had one disassembled. I believe there is just a perpendicular piece of metal attached to the back of the end block that is then driven into a slot on the ends of the face plate, and glued in place for additional protection against them falling out. That said, some Sansui models used short machine screws to clamp the ends in place against the inner surface of the face plate, and now I can't remember which arrangement it was on the 555A, 666, 888 and related models which all share a common faceplate design.
 
Thanks, I suppose one option is to try to source a replacement faceplate complete, but I can't imagine that's going to be easy!
 
Just and update, I managed to find online a supplier of 20mm x 5mm anodised flat bar, and fashoined a pair of end plates out of that. It cost me £7 for a metre length. I chose to fix them in place with one of the 'instant weld' epoxy based glues. They seem pretty solid. Not a perfect match, the anodised bar has a much more uniform finish than the brushed finish on the original, but to all but the closest inspection it looks great. Given there wasn't really many other options I'm pretty happy to have the TU-666 looking good enough to stay in use. It looked awful without them. Here's the result next to the original on the amp for comparison:
IMG-2256.jpg
IMG-2255.jpg
 
I'd call that a downright excellent job, nearly indistinguishable from the original parts. That's a very sharp shelving unit as well, I gather it was custom built?
 
BLAH BLAH said:
I like your speakers as well..sound OK!?
Click to expand...

Now then, you will often see me in the Wharfedale thread, it's been quite a journey. But the short answer is yes! They are beautifully musical, almost choral. I swap them around a lot, I have W70/E's, Rosedales, two pairs of W2B/Dovedale's and an original pair of W2's. I did have a pair of W3's for a while. What they all have in common is cathedral-like bass response ( it hugs you and you feel it as much as you hear it) and a tight snare of a mid range (really hits you). The beauty of early Wharfedale is they don't suffer from foam rot, the drivers are as good today as the day they left the factory. Very efficient too.

They are not for everyone, but I've tried all-sorts and always come back to Wharfedale.
 
ziggydave said:
Now then, you will often see me in the Wharfedale thread, it's been quite a journey. But the short answer is yes! They are beautifully musical, almost choral. I swap them around a lot, I have W70/E's, Rosedales, two pairs of W2B/Dovedale's and an original pair of W2's. I did have a pair of W3's for a while. What they all have in common is cathedral-like bass response ( it hugs you and you feel it as much as you hear it) and a tight snare of a mid range (really hits you). The beauty of early Wharfedale is they don't suffer from foam rot, the drivers are as good today as the day they left the factory. Very efficient too.

They are not for everyone, but I've tried all-sorts and always come back to Wharfedale.
Click to expand...
Not to de-rail this thread...they sure do look pretty...always wanted to hear those early Wharfedale W70's...Had the E90's and still have the E70s...and do enjoy their sound...those W70's seem to be a rare beastie down under!
 
BLAH BLAH said:
Not to de-rail this thread...they sure do look pretty...always wanted to hear those early Wharfedale W70's...Had the E90's and still have the E70s...and do enjoy their sound...those W70's seem to be a rare beastie down under!
Click to expand...
Hey, sorry for the delay, I've not been paying attention! That's quite a selection of Sansui kit you have listed, It's nirvana for me, a decent 60's/70's Sansui and a pair of big Wharfedales! W70's are extremely rare in the UK too, Mine came from Puerto Rico, brought in by a navy chap.
 
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