rubbing voice coil - repairable?

ultrachrome · 31st October 2005, 07:05 AM

I have been gifted a damaged 15" Wharfdale D-054A woofer that came from a pro subwoofer.

The there's a rubbing noise when moving the cone so it appears the voice coil is toast.

Google searches haven't turned up any info.

The woofer is pretty unexceptional looking. Cloth surround, textured paper cone, thin stamped steel basket. Magnet is not very big. Approximately 1.25" by 6".

Fixable or paper weight?

ironwoods · 31st October 2005, 11:48 AM

Hi, I've read that some older, large drivers are susceptible to sagging, although I don't know where it occurs. You can try running it in an inverted(180 degrees) position, if you can distinguish which side was formerly up.

ultrachrome · 31st October 2005, 03:38 PM

This was a vertically mounted woofer. It's only a couple years old at most.

dnsey · 31st October 2005, 05:13 PM

Does the voicecoil show continuity? Is it shorting to the frame when the cone is moved?
If yes to the former and no to the latter, it's probably worth trying to recentre it.
Carefully remove the spider and cone surrounds from the chassis, shim the coil, and refix. Easy!

(Actually not difficult, but care and time required).

ultrachrome · 31st October 2005, 05:45 PM

Interesting. I didn't bother testing it with a DMM.

Based on the description, he was underpowering it and running the amp into clipping.

I'll check that out tonight.

How to remove cloth surround? I've seen descriptions for rubber and foam but not cloth.

There's a multipart gasket on the rim that I guess I just carefully peel off. Could someone recommend a solvent to help remove the surround from the basket?

pinkmouse · 31st October 2005, 06:38 PM

It's worth trying with just a hot air gun firstly, before you get into solvents. Old glue usually softens quite well with judicious heating.

ironwoods · 1st November 2005, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ultrachrome
This was a vertically mounted woofer. It's only a couple years old at most.

Vertically = up & down.....so what I'm trying to convey is, if you were to look at a wall clock, rotated from the "12" position, 'til it is at the "6". = 180 degrees(not Fahrenheit or Celsius).
I could mess up a 1 car funeral.

ultrachrome · 1st November 2005, 06:01 PM

I see what you're saying now. I didn't read your post carefully enough.

However, I did try to reposition the voice coil and see if I could eliminate the rubbing but could not.

I'll get out the heat gun tonight and see if I can get the surround off.

31st October 2005, 07:05 AM	#1
ultrachrome diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Puget Sound	rubbing voice coil - repairable? I have been gifted a damaged 15" Wharfdale D-054A woofer that came from a pro subwoofer. The there's a rubbing noise when moving the cone so it appears the voice coil is toast. Google searches haven't turned up any info. The woofer is pretty unexceptional looking. Cloth surround, textured paper cone, thin stamped steel basket. Magnet is not very big. Approximately 1.25" by 6". Fixable or paper weight?

31st October 2005, 06:38 PM	#6
pinkmouse diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chatham, England	It's worth trying with just a hot air gun firstly, before you get into solvents. Old glue usually softens quite well with judicious heating. __________________ Al I conceive of nothing, in religion, science or philosophy, that is more than the proper thing to wear, for a while. Charles Fort

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31st October 2005, 11:48 AM	#2
ironwoods diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Upper U.S.	Hi, I've read that some older, large drivers are susceptible to sagging, although I don't know where it occurs. You can try running it in an inverted(180 degrees) position, if you can distinguish which side was formerly up.

31st October 2005, 03:38 PM	#3
ultrachrome diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Puget Sound	This was a vertically mounted woofer. It's only a couple years old at most.

31st October 2005, 05:13 PM	#4
dnsey diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Shropshire, England	Does the voicecoil show continuity? Is it shorting to the frame when the cone is moved? If yes to the former and no to the latter, it's probably worth trying to recentre it. Carefully remove the spider and cone surrounds from the chassis, shim the coil, and refix. Easy! (Actually not difficult, but care and time required).

31st October 2005, 05:45 PM	#5
ultrachrome diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Puget Sound	Interesting. I didn't bother testing it with a DMM. Based on the description, he was underpowering it and running the amp into clipping. I'll check that out tonight. How to remove cloth surround? I've seen descriptions for rubber and foam but not cloth. There's a multipart gasket on the rim that I guess I just carefully peel off. Could someone recommend a solvent to help remove the surround from the basket?

1st November 2005, 06:01 PM	#8
ultrachrome diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Puget Sound	I see what you're saying now. I didn't read your post carefully enough. However, I did try to reposition the voice coil and see if I could eliminate the rubbing but could not. I'll get out the heat gun tonight and see if I can get the surround off.

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