need a little help with sda srs

lbristow

my wife's 2yr old nephew decided to push in the dust cover on one of my drivers, can I get this back out and will it effect sound quality at all:mad: Thanks for the help.

NJPOLKER

Before I suggest what to do, you should have done a forum search because this has been discussed many times.
Try a piece of tape like "Scotch" and gently adhear it to the dented dust cap. If it does not pull out the first time try applying more of the tapes surface to the cap. If this fails try using something like Duct Tape which had as higher adhesion level.
Let us know how you make out.

me_myself_I

lbristow wrote: »

my wife's 2yr old nephew decided to push in the dust cover on one of my drivers, can I get this back out and will it effect sound quality at all:mad: Thanks for the help.

A hand vacuum is your friend when this happens.

NJPOLKER

I would not use a vacuum.

Toolfan66

Lasareath wrote: »

No Vacuum. Sometimes Duct tape works, most of the time you are left with wrinkled dust covers.

Did you beat the Child?

Just pushed his nose in...:p

NJPOLKER

Lasareath wrote: »

No Vacuum. Sometimes Duct tape works, most of the time you are left with wrinkled dust covers.

Did you beat the Child?

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

Just pushed his nose in...:p

Spoken like true Polk Heads

nooshinjohn

Were it my child, there would have been a burial in the cornfield behind the house. Maybe that explains why I don't have kids...

AudioGenics

in most cases a "wrinkled / pushed in" the dust cover will not affect sound quality.

also it may be possible to remove the damaged one and glue in a replacement.

perhaps Polk Customer service would also provide a repair solution otherwise perhaps ...have the parents of the child reimburse you for a replacement driver.
I think you were lucky ... just think a 2 year could do a lot worse damage.

I did come across a suggestion to put on some really rocking music and turn up the volume as the sound pressure level will re-inflate the dust cover... no warranties

AudioGenics

forgot to add...

since it was the wife's relative...
you could say that it is time for an upgrade to the speaker system
since the speaker is damage and just doesn't sound the same...

its an audiophile thing......

NJPOLKER

This is one of the reasons I keep the grills on all the time.

Imagine if the child got to the tweeters.

vmaxer

lbristow wrote: »

my wife's 2yr old nephew decided to push in the dust cover on one of my drivers, can I get this back out and will it effect sound quality at all:mad: Thanks for the help.

When working on mine. I dropped one from my hand and I caught it....and pushed the cover in completely,,,tape had no chance and I had little to lose. I put a 90 degree bend in a straight sewing pin and inserted it to the bend and pulled it out with needle nose pliers..:eek:

Not the best treatment, but it worked perfectly!!:D

Good luck!

MB,SC Polkie

If you use the handheld part of your vaccum with the corner attachment on it won't suck so hard risking damage. The corner attachment I am reffering to has a small slit opening in the end rather than a large circular opening. Cover up most of the end with some tape or something. If it doesn't pull it out, simply retape allowing more of the slit open. Also gently massage the edge of the dustcap encouraging it to pop out while vaccuming it. I have used this with great results.

Fabric covers generally look fine after. Paper or plastic ones sometimes have permanent creases after. It's just the nature of the beast. I wouldn't use a pin, as it will leave you with a hole unless you can just snag it. I haven't had much luck that way....no disrespect to the guy who suggested the pin method, but I just haven't found it to be as good of an outcome. GOODLUCK, and if they won't get you a new driver /dustcap etc, by all means push in the childs nose in front of his parents.:D

F1nut

Tape.

lbristow

thanks for all of the advice:D Needless to say I had to leave the room to not make an **** of myself. Yes, if it were my kid I would offer to buy a new driver or cover whatever cost the damage may be, if any. I will give these suggestions a try. The only problem I see is that it is not in the center, but center to edge. I guesst if all else fails I will get a replacement. Buy the way, just purchased a pair of RTi A9s for the basement, in cherry. Interested to see what these sound like compaired to the sda's. May have to get some chicken wire next time I am at Lowes:D

vmaxer

MB,SC Polkie wrote: »

If you use the handheld part of your vaccum with the corner attachment on it won't suck so hard risking damage. The corner attachment I am reffering to has a small slit opening in the end rather than a large circular opening. Cover up most of the end with some tape or something. If it doesn't pull it out, simply retape allowing more of the slit open. Also gently massage the edge of the dustcap encouraging it to pop out while vaccuming it. I have used this with great results.

Fabric covers generally look fine after. Paper or plastic ones sometimes have permanent creases after. It's just the nature of the beast. I wouldn't use a pin, as it will leave you with a hole unless you can just snag it. I haven't had much luck that way....no disrespect to the guy who suggested the pin method, but I just haven't found it to be as good of an outcome. GOODLUCK, and if they won't get you a new driver /dustcap etc, by all means push in the childs nose in front of his parents.:D

:)No offense taken at all...it was a last resort for me, I couldn't get anything to work.

But, what will a .025" pin do to hurt the sound of the driver?? The area in question seems to be a mesh of some type, see photo of mine attached.



Again, it was a last resort that seems to have worked

Click on photo to get a better view.

MB,SC Polkie

vmaxer wrote: »

:)No offense taken at all...it was a last resort for me, I couldn't get anything to work.

But, what will a .025" pin do to hurt the sound of the driver?? The area in question seems to be a mesh of some type, see photo of mine attached.



Again, it was a last resort that seems to have worked

Click on photo to get a better view.

Ahh, yes. You are correct about it being more of a mesh style cap. This is a candidate for the pin method. A little snag with a pin may work. I pesonally just feel a little more comfortable using other methods. It seems most would rather use the tape theory. Again, I meant no disrespect. I simply was just trying to advise by my personal experiences. Have a good one.:)

NJPOLKER

Tape is a good way to go but not the only option.
If you have some Duct Tape and it will not pull out the dent on the first or second pull you should apply the tape again and leave it on the cap for a minute or longer. The extra time will allow the adhesive to bond a little better and increase your chance of success. I used a high bond open cell/foam pressure sensitive tape to pull one of mine and it worked like a champ. Too much bond and you will be buying a replacement driver.

vmaxer

MB,SC Polkie wrote: »

Ahh, yes. You are correct about it being more of a mesh style cap. This is a candidate for the pin method. A little snag with a pin may work. I pesonally just feel a little more comfortable using other methods. It seems most would rather use the tape theory. Again, I meant no disrespect. I simply was just trying to advise by my personal experiences. Have a good one.:)

I agree with you completely. I tried tape before the pin. I guess I didn't have the correct type and I was a bit upset at myself for letting it happen... I figured I had nothing to lose and tried it and it worked. I figured if I was going to have to replace it, what the hell??

I am not dis-agreeing in any way, but was wondering how such a small hole would hurt even if this was a paper type?? Trying to learn and understand...It's just my nature to want to understand the how's and why's...

me_myself_I

vmaxer wrote: »

I agree with you completely. I tried tape before the pin. I guess I didn't have the correct type and I was a bit upset at myself for letting it happen... I figured I had nothing to lose and tried it and it worked. I figured if I was going to have to replace it, what the hell??

I am not dis-agreeing in any way, but was wondering how such a small hole would hurt even if this was a paper type?? Trying to learn and understand...It's just my nature to want to understand the how's and why's...

Vmaxer,

The worst case situation with poking holes in the dust cap is that an air leak will be introduced if the speaker driver has what's called a "vented pole piece". If the driver in question has a solid dustcap, check to make sure there isn't a hole in the back of the driver magnet. A leak can cause problems with the driver loading and screw up the box alignment.

The advantage to have a vented pole piece with respect to a dented dust cap is that one can often "push out" the dustcap by inserting a long object through the vent.

If the driver has a mesh dustcap, it's almost a certainty that the pole-piece isn't vented, so using a pin or paper clip to pull it out should be ok. If done poorly, a hole can be a cosmetic problem for some people. And if the hole is big enough, particles can get into the voice-coil gap.

I'm a proponent of using a vacuum to "suck out" the dust cap. If done carefully, there is no damage to the driver/dustcap and also no chance that adhesive residue from tape will stay on the dust cap.

NJPOLKER

Almost all tears start small about the size of a lets say - **** or pin ****

While I'm at it the only way you should use suction to pull it out is if a good woman does it.

vmaxer

me_myself_I wrote: »

Vmaxer,

The worst case situation with poking holes in the dust cap is that an air leak will be introduced if the speaker driver has what's called a "vented pole piece". If the driver in question has a solid dustcap, check to make sure there isn't a hole in the back of the driver magnet. A leak can cause problems with the driver loading and screw up the box alignment.

The advantage to have a vented pole piece with respect to a dented dust cap is that one can often "push out" the dustcap by inserting a long object through the vent.

If the driver has a mesh dustcap, it's almost a certainty that the pole-piece isn't vented, so using a pin or paper clip to pull it out should be ok. If done poorly, a hole can be a cosmetic problem for some people. And if the hole is big enough, particles can get into the voice-coil gap.

I'm a proponent of using a vacuum to "suck out" the dust cap. If done carefully, there is no damage to the driver/dustcap and also no chance that adhesive residue from tape will stay on the dust cap.

Thanks for the information, makes sense!!;)

NJPOLKER

Me Myself and Irene, There is very little chance that the adhesive will transfer to the cap unless either left on the cap for a long period of time or heat is applied and that will not happen in this case, at least I'd hope not.
Also if you have a piece of single coated foam tape used for sealing windows and such it can do a great job. High adhesion and will form to any creases in the cap for a better hold.
I wish some one would tag this thread properly so others down the road can find this thread and not start another.

me_myself_I

vmaxer wrote: »

Thanks for the information, makes sense!!;)

You're very welcome.

lbristow

I have tried the vacuum and tape, no luck. I guess I will try the pin method and see what happens:eek:

me_myself_I

lbristow wrote: »

I have tried the vacuum and tape, no luck. I guess I will try the pin method and see what happens:eek:

lbristow,

Do you have a picture of the damage? Is there some special circumstance we're not aware of? Thanks.

vmaxer

lbristow wrote: »

I have tried the vacuum and tape, no luck. I guess I will try the pin method and see what happens:eek:

Let us know how it works out...

NJPOLKER

Good idea pictures always help.

lbristow

a vacuum with a little more power pulled it out. No damage to the driver:D Thanks for the help

me_myself_I

lbristow wrote: »

a vacuum with a little more power pulled it out. No damage to the driver:D Thanks for the help

I'm glad the vacuum trick worked well for you. It's a handy trick to remember that also works on dome tweeters.

I'm not sure why there is an aversion to it from a couple of people in this thread, but it works almost every time. The only time it didn't work for me was with one of those odd JBL metal dust caps. Luckily they make replacements for those.

F1nut

I'm not sure why there is an aversion to it from a couple of people in this thread, but it works almost every time.

Pretty simple really, we found that the other methods worked best.