Local Polkies: Help with refoam?

zingo

My KEF 104/2s are due for a refoam simply based on age, and I'd rather fix any problems before they happen; PM as we like to say. I've do a lot with speakers, but never this task. Are their any local Polkies who have experience and be willing to help me with the refoam project? I'd provide beer for the assistance, or whatever terms we agree on.

I contacted Orange County Speaker and they can supply this kit for $80 which covers all four woofers for surrounds and donut dust covers.

dorokusai

Hopefully George Grand will find the KEF's I've been searching for over the course of many years but he keeps forgetting about me. Great model Zingo, love that series and year.

Mark

argylesox

Hey Zingo,

I re-foamed four tweeters (two per speaker) on my vintage Pioneer CS-88A's some years back using an Orange County speaker kit. All I remember was being very nervous about it but it went just fine after diving in and following the instructions that came with the kit. Until then I had never so much as opened up a speaker so I believe you'll do just fine.

BTW, did a lot of work for beer over the years - you make a generous offer.

Good luck.

zingo

Orange county send me these instructions when I asked them if they had any experience with these KEF speakers. The mounting system on these is extensive, but the sound quality is great.

Here are some tips on how to disassemble the speakers:

* Use 5mm hex wrench to remove (4) bolts securing high/mid baffle to cabinet
* Lift baffle and unplug harness from back of baffle
* Set baffle aside
* Remove 8 philips head screws from bottom panel
* Remove bottom panel and unplug crossover (make note of wire colors and locations on crossover)
* Set panel aside
* Remove batting material from both bottom and top of cabinet to gain access to woofers
* Unsolder wires to woofer leads (make note of wire colors to left/right side of speaker terminal)
* Use 10mm socket to remove bolt from back of bottom woofer and front of top woofer
* Remove (6) nuts from front of each woofer
* Remove green foam if necessary
* Remove top woofer through cutout in top of cabinet
* Remove connecting rod
* Remove bottom woofer through cutout in middle of cabinet

I also chatted with a local speaker repair guy who many friends have used, and he quoted me about $220 to replace both foam pieces on all four woofers. Having never done this before, do you think it's worth saving $140 to do it myself? Either way I'd have to remove them from the cabinet.

argylesox

GULP! This is way beyond what I performed with my Pioneers but the tip sheet is all about disassembly which you?ll have to do either way, right? It all probably depends on how handy you are ("If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." The Red Green Show . . . SORRY!). If you are, consider going ahead with it yourself. If you have any doubts about the re-foaming part you can call or email Orange County for any help/advice you might need. They could also do the re-foam I think but then you?ve got shipping, etc. If it?s worth the extra $140 and you have more confidence in the local guy than yourself, go that route.

Good luck.

zingo

Bump

soundfreak1

Ive done a lot of stuff myself but refoam intimadeted me as well.sometimes its just not worth the savings to expirment on your best speakers. You can replace the money more easily than the drivers.( just saying) remember the old sage...descretion is the better part of valor.

zingo

Good point. Replacement drivers are few and far between, and a lot more money than paying somebody for new surrounds.

Hmm...

zingo

Cracked the bottom of the speakers and they seem pretty easy to take apart and pull the woofers; more to come.