by Ron Rich »
Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:47 pm
Hi James,
There is the "remote possibility", that your problem is mechanism related. To quickly check this, remove the mute plug from the amp, and "short" all of the contacts within that plug. Do this carefully, as there is a small shock hazard, from the 25vac. If the coil fires when the contacts are shorted, the mech is NOT the problem. The problem is either at that plug/socket, or the relay itself. As for the relay, unless you have a very early, "Code A", TSA-1 amp, the relay should be housed inside a "round can", screwed to the inside of the amp. The top of the can was taped, to keep it on. I "clean" them as follows: Unscrew the whole can, remove the tape/cover, and shoot a non residue, plastic safe solvent onto the contacts. USUALLY, this is enough, but if the lower center,contact, is NOT making dis-assembly is required, and a very "careful" cleaning of the contacts is needed--caution, these are "crossbar" type contacts, and MUST be adjusted to "wipe", upon contact. In some cases ( in which I suspect it has had "some help"), I need to replace that relay with an "ice cube" type. Ron Rich