JBL LX16 Crossovers in the Can

[DonQuixote99]

Just acquired some sort-of rough JBL L-200 speakers. Here's a view of them in the outdoor speaker test area:

And here is why testing came to a quick halt:

As you can see, there's a binding post missing. Initially, there was about 1/8" of machine screw sticking out of that empty hole, but unknown to me, there was nothing holding that screw in place, and it's now fallen inside the crossover. So, I need to get inside the crossover.

Anybody know how one does that?

The crossover is contained in an oblong can thing. The only exterior feature, besides a couple of holes with wires coming out, are two rivets on each side:

Are the rivets stock, or someone's bright idea? Am I really going to have to drill out rivits to open this thing up? The other possibility I can think of is maybe the end panel comes off if you remove all the binding posts, but it seems like it might be hard to reassemble if you do that....

I feel like Gomer trying to fix a Ferrari.

 

[Zonker92]

I think those rivets are stock, but regardless of whether they are, I think you're gonna have to drill them.

Cool project!

 

[DonQuixote99]

Well, testing proceeded by means of taking the drivers out and testing them with the other cab's crossover. Can report I have all original drivers that seem to all work well (in brief testing). Whole shebang has moved to the basement.

The best way to get those cabs down the stairs is with an elevator. Next best way is with a two-wheel dolly, and the drivers out....

 

[Zonker92]

Fun, fun. Are you going to mod them, or just restore them?

 

[DonQuixote99]

Restoration, in the main. I'll make the factory-recommended changes to the crossovers. But the idea here will be to preserve marketability.

Looks like the main focus of activity will be cab repair and refinishing. I'll take a bunch more pics and start another thread in a day or two.

BTW, the other crossover has rivets too, so I'd say they're stock. This thread was mainly a WTF about finding the crossovers so inaccessible....

 

[Zonker92]

Cool.

I have a memory of seeing rivets on other crossovers like that, including some I had, so yeah; I think they are original.

 

[DonQuixote99]

Update to the L-200 saga. As speakers, turns out the L-200s are among the less-loved of JBLs. Furthermore, I came to find out that one of the woofers (the darker one with the tell-tale orange gasket) had a replacement Waldon cone. It was marked WHF-5516; original JBL LE-15B cones are marked 31044. The Waldon cones are also little-loved, it seems. Given the work necessary to make the the cabs pretty, and the difficulty of marketing huge speakers, the restoration, ultimately, did not seem such a great idea.

However, selling the parts was rewarding. In particular, it turns out the LE-85 HF drivers, and H-91 horns, and L-91 lenses, are very loved indeed. The woofers and crossovers found a market as well.

The profits went to necessary uses, but I have retained the cabinets, I own some mighty Altec woofers (from Model 14s), and someday real soon now the big E-wave project will finally get under way.

 

[TangoMango]

Update to the L-200 saga. As speakers, turns out the L-200s are among the less-loved of JBLs. Furthermore, I came to find out that one of the woofers (the darker one with the tell-tale orange gasket) had a replacement Waldon cone. It was marked WHF-5516; original JBL LE-15B cones are marked 31044. The Waldon cones are also little-loved, it seems. Given the work necessary to make the the cabs pretty, and the difficulty of marketing huge speakers, the restoration, ultimately, did not seem such a great idea.

However, selling the parts was rewarding. In particular, it turns out the LE-85 HF drivers, and H-91 horns, and L-91 lenses, are very loved indeed. The woofers and crossovers found a market as well.

The profits went to necessary uses, but I have retained the cabinets, I own some mighty Altec woofers (from Model 14s), and someday real soon now the big E-wave project will finally get under way.

I know this thread is ages old, but if you're still here, I'd love to know if you ever popped open the crossovers. I have the same issue with a set I'm trying to repair. Also wondering if I should just part them out. I'd really love to restore them, tho...

 

[Tozco]

Yes, you drill out the rivets. It is standard procedure and nothing to worry about. Compared to the average crossover of the same age, these JBL units hold up better. The caps were pretty good quality and they are potted in wax.