• WARNING: Tube/Valve amplifiers use potentially LETHAL HIGH VOLTAGES.
    Building, troubleshooting and testing of these amplifiers should only be
    performed by someone who is thoroughly familiar with
    the safety precautions around high voltages.

Saving Dud valves

Hi,
If you come across a power valve with a UX or B5 or B7 base (hollow pins) and they seem to have no emission, resoldering the pins often effects a cure, I'm sure we've all done this. Occasionally though, this doesn't cure the problem.
I recently bought a pair of DA42's listed as untested apart from heaters - one was fine, the other failed to work. Resoldering didn't work either, so I tried a 'trick' that had worked in the past.
Use a piercing saw to cut across the pin, part way through the pin, about 3mm from its end. Then cut a slot from the pin tip to meet the first cut - carefully open out the pin to allow access to the electrode wire, often found unsoldered internally - scrape away the inside surface of the pin and the wire - use flux and resolder making a firm joint - bend the opened pin back to shape and reflow.
With luck you will have a working valve.
The DA42 responded well and is now working fine!
This may seem a little severe but has saved several valves over the years🙂