JBL B460 Driver removal

[Vintage Pete]

Hi Guys,

Sadly, the day has arrived that I must either refoam or recone the 2245H driver in my JBL B460 Subwoofer. :tears: Anyone here have experience with removing this driver from the B460? It doesn't want to come out without a fight. :grumpy: Those of you familiar with the B460 know that it is held in with 8 clamps, and there are also dowel pins that the holes in the driver fit over, and between these pins and the sealing gasket, the driver just doesn't want to budge. I am concerned with chewing up the baffle and/or speaker frame prying with a screwdriver. I've tried warming up the perimeter of the frame with a hair drier, to no avail. I'm not sure if the driver has ever been removed, it appears perhaps not. Has anyone here had trouble with this, and how did you get the driver out?

Thanks,

Peter

 

[AMPHEAD]

Pete

I'm not familiar with that particular model. If it has two bass drivers, remove the other, them reach in and push the 2245 out from behind.

 

[Vintage Pete]

Single driver

Pete

Have you tried to remove the other bass driver, and if it removes, reach in and push the 2245 out from behind?

There is no other driver, this is a subwoofer with one active driver.
(See photos). Also, there is no removable rear panel where you could push the driver out from behind.


Peter

 

[rgrjit8]

Roll up a towel.
Put the speaker on it's face on the towel. (Not across the driver. You are using the towel to give yourself a space to get your fingers under.)
Lift the speaker about 4 inches then let it drop onto the towel.
Repeat as needed until the driver pops loose.

Or, you could pry it witha screwdriver using a popsicle stick as the fulcrum and to protect the finish.

 

[Bob E.]

Well, it's been a while since I pullled the driver out of mine (and it needs re-foaming too), but I don't remember any particular difficulty. If I remember right, I had mine laying on its back when I removed the clamps, and was able to just pop the driver up and off...I don't even remember what I used to pry it up. Maybe you could try some taps around the edge of the frame with a rubber mallet?

--Bob

 

[gonzomeep]

Cover a small area on the baffle with blue masking tape. Then take a short piece of 2"x4" or other hardwood. Position the piece of wood over the tape (to protect the baffle finish) an butt it up against the raised rim of the 2245H at a 45 degree angle. GENTLY tap the other end with a hammer. This should "shock" the 2245H sideways just a bit and loosen the bond. Worked for me many times. Tell us how you do.

 

[mech986]

Very nice JBL B460!! As stunning a cabinet as the L300 and L250 that this was built to accompany.

My recommendation would be to put the cabinet on its back with maybe some type of block to have the driver basically flat and level. Then there is no torque from the magnet weight to work against. Apply the blue masking tape as Gonzomeep suggests. If the sideways tapping doesn't loosen the bond (I think the original gasket was cork IIRC), then try this. Get 4 or 5 plastic 2" or wider putty blades. With chisel edge up, you can tap these in at 90 degree points around the driver frame. At some point, the bond should open up between the driver and gasket. Likely the gasket will deform a bit though.

Be sure to inconspicuously mark the frame or cone for clock position. If you refoam, you might want to rotate the driver 180 degrees so the spider, if not worn out, will not be sagging from the same gravity pull.

You should check with JBL to see about replacement sealing gaskets. Also, if you are going to refoam or recone, be sure to gently peel out or remove the foam rubber front gasket that sits on top of the foam surround. I don't know if these are available anymore but they always looked better than the typical paper gaskets that many refoamers supply. May be a minor point but it keeps that original JBL look.

If you refoam, be sure to get the proper narrow half roll foam and put the foam on the back of the cone as per original only. The 2245H is one awesome driver and deserves the best of your efforts.

Just checked JBLPro's website http://www.jblproservice.com/navigation/pdf_nav_parts lists.html on the 2245H driver. Recone kit is C8R2245H and is $246 for the kit alone. Rear Gasket could be #60578, cork Adhesive back for the similar 2240H 18" and is only 0.96 per segment (may need 4), and the front gasket if needing replacement is #51272 and, if available, is only $1.14 (may be per 90 degree segment), always check with JBL Pro Parts to be sure about true stock availability.

Good luck!

Regards,

Bart

 

[jblmar]

Over time the gasket sticks to the woofer frame. After removing the 8 screws gently pry the frame from the gasket.

Ron

 

[Vintage Pete]

We take another crack at it

Over time the gasket sticks to the woofer frame. After removing the 8 screws gently pry the frame from the gasket.

Ron

I've seen JBL frames stick to the gasket as you say...but this is the stubbornest case I've seen. Also, I'm not sure how much those dowel pins are contributing to the difficulty.

A number of good tips have been posted here. I just got back from Home Depot with some supplies, and I'll go back to it shortly.

Thanks to all for their tips and info...I'll keep you posted.

Peter

 

[Vintage Pete]

Got it!

Hey folks,

Got it! A combination of the blue masking tape, the two x four and tapping, and a couple of madium sized beveled paint scapers did the trick. The 2245H is indeed an awesome driver! :yes: I was lucky when I got my B460 five years ago for a number of reasons: Not only was the driver and cabinet in very good shape, whoever owned it before me installed really nice WBT binding posts, and I don't believe the internal hookup wires are stock either. See photos-note the braided configuration of the wires. Anyone know who makes these? The way they go right inside the binding posts at the rear of the enclosure almost makes it appear that they came with the WBT terminals. If you look at the driver sitting next to the cabinet, you can see where the surround has split. Though you can't see it in the photos, it has also separated along 3 inches or so of the cone's circumference. From what I can tell from looking at the rear of the cone, this driver was never refoamed-if anything it was reconed. At any rate, I consider myself lucky I got 5 years out of the driver since I bought the system in 2002.

Thanks for all the helfpful tips and info folks!

Peter

 

[mech986]

:yes: :thmbsp: :ntwrthy: :ntwrthy: :beer:

Nice work, always love it when a plan works out. Great driver pics and I think if you refoam yourself, it should work out fine, just review some of the threads here about it, get the right surround and glue, and take your time. There's some good instructions also at Lansing Heritage where you also posted so you're on the right track.

Some day I'll find a B460 as well....Know what the 460 stands for?

Regards,

Bart

 

[gonzomeep]

460mm or 18" driver

 

[mech986]

Hey Gonz,

No fair, you know the secret handshakes too well!!

Besides, you have two Samsons, you should share...I'll have to come visit with a few crates of source material.

Have a nice week!

Regards,

Bart

 

[gonzomeep]

I've crossed into the light

I'm selling off all my JBL stuff except the two Sumo Samson's. Check out my newest system configuration here:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=110537


I'd love to have you over for a listen some time my friend.

 

[Vintage Pete]

I Can't believe my ears (eyes)

I'm selling off all my JBL stuff except the two Sumo Samson's. Check out my newest system configuration here:
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=110537


I'd love to have you over for a listen some time my friend.

Steve,

Yesterday I read your thread on your ESS restoration, and first I like to say you did a great job, as always. But....SELL YUR JBL STUFF?????

I can't believe it. :tears:

I'd love to take you up on the invitation sometime...But I'd want to hear those L220's with the horn mods!

And of course, if you ever make it to sunny Florida, I'd love to have you over for a listen here as well!!

Peter

 

[Vintage Pete]

2245H to be reconed

Good evening all,

I've elected to have the 2245H fully reconed by Speaker Exchange in Tampa. They've ordered the kit and I've had them do next day delivery, so the kit should arrive there tomorrow morning (Tuesday). I've taken the driver to them today so they can commence the cleanup and prep on the frame. I should have it back by week's end. I can't wait!

I'll post pics of the reconed driver when I get it back.

Thanks again to all,

Peter

 

[mech986]

Hi Peter,

Sounds like a great plan. Hey, I'm flying to Florida Tomorrow, will land in Ft. Lauderdale at 8:30 PM and then drive over to Marco Island to attend a conference through Saturday Noon, then back to FLL to fly back to L.A. Any chance to see the B460 (even without the driver) if you're in the vicinity?

Unfortunately I chose FLL instead of Tampa to fly into this time and you'll be 3 hours north of me, right?

Regards,

Bart

 

[Vintage Pete]

Tampa Bay area

Hi Peter,

Sounds like a great plan. Hey, I'm flying to Florida Tomorrow, will land in Ft. Lauderdale at 8:30 PM and then drive over to Marco Island to attend a conference through Saturday Noon, then back to FLL to fly back to L.A. Any chance to see the B460 (even without the driver) if you're in the vicinity?

Unfortunately I chose FLL instead of Tampa to fly into this time and you'll be 3 hours north of me, right?

Regards,

Bart

Bart,

Unfortuntely, from looking at the map it appears that Marco Island is quite a way from here-I live in the Clearwater-Largo area (Tampa Bay). It looks like Marco Island is pretty far south of Naples, so you'd be looking at quite a trek to this area, probably about 4 hours anyway. You'd certainly be welcome to stop by anytime if you're in the area.


The B460 is a great sub; I wanted one for many years before I found one on the bay. I was not disappointed. I'm really looking forwad to the 2245H driver's return in "like new" shape after reconing.


As to the sealing gaskets you mentioned in your post, I think the existing gaskets are okay. The guy at the repair center seemed to think that the outer trim gasket(s) would come with the recone kit. That would be nice. If not, the existing ones are not at all bad. They do get a bit deformed from the holding clamps that secure the driver in the baffle.


Keep in touch!


Peter

 

[Vintage Pete]

Newly reconed

As promised, here are some pics of the newly reconed driver, which I got back late last week. It works perfectly and looks great too. The work was done by Speaker Exchange in Tampa, and I recommend them.

Back in business!

Peter

 

[Clmrt]

Hubba Hubba