UK : Repairing foam surrounds on Tannoy HPD 315s

[tekno.mage]

To my total surprise I have just been *given* a pair of Tannoy Cheviots! A friend got them from a relative while ago, discovered they were not the 'Monitor Reds' he'd heard of, and left them to gather dust in a back room until last night - when he turned up and gave them to me - as he's 'clearing stuff out'.

They are in excellent condition except for the disintegrating foam surround problem that is common to the 12" & 15" HPDs. The substantial boxes are dated May 1976 inside. One driver's foam is not *too* bad, so I'm using at very low level - and it sounds lovely. The other is a bit worse - the foam is holding on *just* with three holes in the sticky stuff. The voice coils on that test ok.

The foam appears to have disintegrated in storage, not while they were in use. The paper cones are perfect, as are the dust-caps (*always* so attractive to small fingers if exposed!). I suspect my friend was the first person to ever remove the grilles, and the previous owner probably polished the cabinets more often than using the speakers!

Now I need some help. I was planning on carefully transporting the drivers by car to a local speaker repair firm and have the foam surrounds replaced with minimal disturbance to the pristine cones/dustcaps. BUT they can no longer affordably source surrounds for HPDs and suggested I speak to an authorised Tannoy repair shop which is really too far away for me to transport them to - and I won't risk courier/royal mail! My local firm also warned the cost would be over £150/unit. EEEK!

So I asked if my local firm would do the job if I supplied the relevant parts, and they said they'd might, but would need to see drivers and parts before agreeing.

Always supposing I *can* get hold of the Tannoy parts at reasonable price (please recommend suppliers or if anyone has any old stock they don't need - let me know your price!) (I'm going for real Tannoy parts, but am open to recommendation to any third party refoam options other people have had good experiences with on HPDs) I then have to choose between getting local firm to do it (if they agree on seeing the job) or (scarey bit) attempting it myself. If I have several dead speakers/refoam kits to practise on first, I'd have no problem with DIY - but am much less confident when my first attempt will be on a pair of vintage HPDs in otherwise excellent condition :-(

Has anyone here successfully refoamed an HPD? Or unsuccessfully tried - if so could the driver be salvaged & repaired after the attempt? Hints and tips, things to avoid PLEASE.

Examining the best of the two (just two tiny holes in foam surround) it seems it should be possible to somehow secure the LF cone as it is now (ie working and central) - so the sticky old foam can be removed and new surround fitted but without dustcap removal/shims/etc needed when whole surround is gone and cone has no lateral support at all. Ideas/comments anyone?

Anyone know how to remove the sticky foam mess from the paper cone edge without marking or damaging the cone? Is there a solvent that will work without soften the paper or leaving a 'tide mark' on the cone ?

Recommendations for a good adhesive to use with new surround?

Any experienced Tannoy HPD refoamers local to Hampshire UK who'd like to quote for the job? I'll deliver & collect the bare drivers anywhere south or west of London if legal parking for hi-top (8 foot 3 inches) van available nearby - ie no height bars/or multistories!

[tekno.mage]

Well, I've ordered some genuine Tannoy surrounds and after more research have decided to give it a go myself.

Will report on progress. Surrounds should be delivered next week.

[Brett]

Originally posted by tekno.mage
Well, I've ordered some genuine Tannoy surrounds and after more research have decided to give it a go myself.

Will report on progress. Surrounds should be delivered next week.

Go here, http://users.bigpond.com/tunnelgap/Tannoy/tannoy1.html , and look at the "Roll Surrounds" section.

[delapoer]

So how did this turn out and where did you get the surrounds from?