Power tube question.

[TNJ]

I had a couple of 7581 tubes, in my Two Rock, that I pulled and wanted to try out in my Heritage amp. When I removed the 1st tube, the little plastic center piece (with a little slot on it to help place the tube correctly, I think) broke off and is still in the socket. There was a little metal or glass shaped piece under the plastic center. The other tube came out, no problems. I put them both in the Heritage (yeah, I know...), and switched the amp on...I heard a very short rumbling noise, and the amp went dead.
I couldnt turn it back on...so I checked the fuse. The fuse was blown.
Am I in deep sh*t with my Heritage Patriot, or is it a simple matter of replacing the fuse and putting some good power tubes back in?
The other question I have concerns getting that little plastic piece out of the power tube socket in the Two Rock. Is that dangerous, and how would you get it out? Needle nose pliers?

Any help/advice would be appreciated.
I will probably end up taking both amps to a tech, but wanted some answers here first.

Thanks,
S.
j

[skipm45]

TNJ,
Bummer! Unfortunately this happens. Yes, you can carefully remove the keyed part.
What probably happened was that the tube without the alignment key was put into the other amp and was off by a pin (or 2). The result::facepalm

The heritage may be ok.


Skip
www.skipzcircuits.com (http://www.skipzcircuits.com)

[jawjatek]

Next time get the key out and then superglue it back on. I just "fixed" an amp that had a tube without the key inserted wrong, among other issues. This was for a local musician who is pretty hard on his amps. I try to teach 'em not to do stuff like that, but... oh well.

[donnyjaguar]

You may need to dismantle the amplifier and knock the busted key-pin out from the back. You *can* super-glue them back on the tube.

[TNJ]

Well alright! I dont have the right fuses, or I could fire that Heritage up this evening.

I'll at least fix that power tube key, then. (that's what they call it, eh?)

And I"m taking them both to a good area tech to fix up.

Glad I can keep those 7581's.

Thanks,


S.
j