Why Unqualified Repairs Are Often Dangerous

[agedhorse]

This came into the shop today, customer first claimed that it was working fine then suddenly stopped working, and of course trying to claim the flat rate service program coverage said that nobody tried to repair it.

Obviously this wasn't the case and it came out that "maybe" he and his "highly qualified" electronics buddy from the local repair shop might have "looked at it" but didn't touch anything other than installing a new tube.

Clearly this wasn't the case, there's a metal rod where the fuse is supposed to be, the jack nuts are missing and the fan wires were cut. There was also "magic cure-all spray" spooge all over the inside of amp (including on the power amp module), which may have been the root cause of the failure.

First of all, this is extremely dangerous because depending on the failure mode, it's possible for the bulk supply caps to explode, which can launch electrolyte onto a person's face and into their eyes (a trip to the ER for sure).

Second, this would have likely been a $100 flat rate repair had they not messed with it. Now, it's in the $450-$500 territory.

This is a good way to learn from somebody else's expensive mistake (or lapse of good judgement), and why I stopped supporting non-factory service except at Fender authorized service centers. I see this stuff more and more these days.

 

[bootstrap]

Pics or it didn't happen!

V/R,
wino

 

[Killing Floor]

If it’s a Peavey Mark IV with the metal stuffed in the fuse cylinder that was me in 9th grade.

I was not qualified!

 

[Old Blastard]

It's why I'm looking at replacing my combos with components. When my 60-pound, 8-year-old Hartke combo died in an area with no Hartke repair shops, the cost of shipping it made it not worth the cost of replacing it. Luckily, I still have my 50-pound, 13-year-old Genz Benz that works like a champ.

 

[agedhorse]

Pics or it didn't happen!

V/R,
wino

Sorry, didn't upload correctly. Re-added the picture for your own personal pleasure... and that of others.

 

[Jim Bergantino]

View attachment 5405553 This came into the shop today, customer first claimed that it was working fine then suddenly stopped working, and of course trying to claim the flat rate service program coverage said that nobody tried to repair it.

Obviously this wasn't the case and it came out that "maybe" he and his "highly qualified" electronics buddy from the local repair shop might have "looked at it" but didn't touch anything other than installing a new tube.

Clearly this wasn't the case, there's a metal rod where the fuse is supposed to be, the jack nuts are missing and the fan wires were cut. There was also "magic cure-all spray" spooge all over the inside of amp (including on the power amp module), which may have been the root cause of the failure.

First of all, this is extremely dangerous because depending on the failure mode, it's possible for the bulk supply caps to explode, which can launch electrolyte onto a person's face and into their eyes (a trip to the ER for sure).

Second, this would have likely been a $100 flat rate repair had they not messed with it. Now, it's in the $450-$500 territory.

This is a good way to learn from somebody else's expensive mistake (or lapse of good judgement), and why I stopped supporting non-factory service except at Fender authorized service centers. I see this stuff more and more these days.

Looks to me like just a "bad" fuse! ;-}

 

[agedhorse]

Looks to me like just a "bad" fuse! ;-}

Yeah, it needed a serious scolding… bad fuse, bad fuse!

 

[6thplanet]

But the sticker says it passed QC?


...I'll see myself out...

 

[5StringBlues]

I don't even think aged horse should look at that amp. There is a sticker on it that says not FIELD serviceable.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Amateurs! Everyone knows a .22 cartridge fits just as easily.

Riis

 

[Old Blastard]

I, uh, well, I mean if, that is ... damn

 

[DaveParker39]

i learned that lesson the hard way on a crate combo in my college dorm room, tried to fix a power switch with liquid electrical tape and ended up in the ER when i turned it on

 

[JuanB]

Incredible. What was going through their minds? Thank you for the entertainment.

 

[msb]

I sent my old GenzBenz to agedhorse for a checkup , it was still working fine , but the front led had stopped working. I was thankful it was unmolested. The turnaround was fast. And today it’s like a new amp. Money well spent , I’m thankful he’s still servicing those amps.

I do have a local authorized repair guy for other class D amps.

 

[Killing Floor]

Is that just an old nail someone found? That’s awesome.

I was just playing and it stopped working. I didn’t try to fix it. That’s how it came from the dealer. No, really.

 

[60bass]

C'mon everybody knows on a blown fuse you're supposed to use tinfoil from a gum wrapper, or a pack of smokes, or that burrito you wrapped in tinfoil to take to the gig.

 

[groooooove]

this concept should be applied to so many other topics...

my dad recently retired after 40+ years working as an electrician in the NYC area...

he won't take residential side jobs anymore because too many times he gets to a job and finds the tell-tale signs of a "handyman" who did some electrical work. it's not that he can't fix it- or even that the customer can't afford to pay what it would cost to fix it..

its just the frustration of knowing how easy it should be, but some goof "knew what they were doing" years ago..

 

[Swerve]

I have a degree in Electronics and even I won’t mess with a faulty amp. I’m smart enough to know I suck at it and its why I work in IT. lol

 

[pie_man_25]

View attachment 5405553... there's a metal rod where the fuse is supposed to be...

You know, I'm aware I'm in the, "doesn't have the know-how to fix this stuff" territory. But uhhh... what?

 

[Ellery]

Ouch! I saw the rod in the fuse before I finished reading. And you gotta love the bs story that noone has touched it, people will say ANYTHING to save a buck!