Tube socket does not fit tube

[WRyan]

Hello,

I just received parts for my first amp build and ran into something odd. The octal sockets I received do not seem to fit the 6V6 nor the 5Y3GT tube. The problem is the plastic round post with the key (in the center of the tube pins) seems just slightly too large for the keyhole in the socket.

I was wondering if this is something anyone else has run into.

Is it possible I ordered the wrong socket, or is it more likely that the manufacturing tolerances are off on the cheap socket?
The socket I ordered is an octal socket.

Thanks so much!

[ray_moth]

I've never experienced the problem you describe with octals. Pins can be very tight (or even too loose) but not the spigot.

[korneluk]

Originally posted by WRyan
Hello,
Is it possible I ordered the wrong socket, or is it more likely that the manufacturing tolerances are off on the cheap socket?
The socket I ordered is an octal socket.

Thanks so much!

could you by chance have ordered a Loctal socket? Also 8-pins but the center hole will not accommodate an Octal tube.

Loctal


Octal


The Angela website:
http://www.angela.com/catalog/tube-sockets/8.pin.html

[Boris_The_Blade]

Could also have been a compactron socket or similar type (i.e. magnoval, or some specialty 8-pin socket, etc). They have a large center hole which is not meant for any type of key. Take a picture if you can.

[coresta]

or old british octal (WWII) models ... a friend of mine purchased some, built the amp and ....

[WRyan]

Thanks for all everyone’s response. It is very helpful to have a forum like this available to newcomers.

Here is a picture of the socket:


Description from retailer’s site is:

SOCKET, 8 PIN OCTAL, SADDLE PLATE, BLACK, BOTTOM MOUNT

Plastic, bottom mount. 1 1/8" chassis hole, 1 1/2" mounting centers.

RoHS Compliant

Thanks again!

[korneluk]

Looks like a plastic octal socket. Try a couple more tubes, if still no go, you can always [carefully] enlarge the center hole with a drill bit using a slow speed drill while the socket is securely fastened.

[refference]

Hi Wryan ,

My guess is that “coresta” is correct !!!

Coresta wrote :
or old british octal (WWII) models ... a friend of mine purchased some, built the amp and ....

In fact , there was a british standard called MAZDA OCTAL , and the AMERICAN OCTAL STANDARD .

At first sight , they look very similar , but there is a little difference between the spigots diameter and between pin spacings . It’s very easy to be confused looking at one and another .

If this is the case , there is no way , you need to change or replace them BEFORE the assembly .

Regards ,

Carlos Eduardo

[WRyan]

Thanks so much everyone!

[Geek]

Originally posted by WRyan
RoHS Compliant

Dead giveaway of a new manufacture socket, probably needing redrilling.

As explained to me, this is caused by all modern manufacturing equipment being in metric. Old tubes being is US Imperial measurements (as opposed to UK Imperial measurements, which most Asian reference and table books are derived from).

The end result is a tight to impossible fit.

Hope it worked out!