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Removing outer rings from the speaker basket

d-ray657

d-ray657

Ain't this boogie a mess
I just picked up a pair of Infinity Reference Four speakers. The surrounds were shot on both the woofer and the mid-range. I have pulled the drivers, but each speaker has a round plastic ring on the top of the basket and extending over the side. It appears that they are glued on. I could only get one of them to move a little bit, and I don't want to force them and break my new toy. Has anyone dealt with this before? Would it work to drizzle a little solvent between the ring and the basket. The only solvent I have right now is Googone, unless Isopropyl alcohol could be used. Thanks for any suggestions.

Regards,

D-Ray
 
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d-ray657 said:
I just picked up a pair of Infinity Reference Four speakers. The surrounds were shot on both the woofer and the mid-range. I have pulled the drivers, but each speaker has a round plastic ring on the top of the basket and extending over the side. It appears that they are glued on. I could only get one of them to move a little bit, and I don't want to force them and break my new toy. Has anyone dealt with this before? Would it work to drizzle a little solvent between the ring and the basket. The only solvent I have right now is Googone, unless Isopropyl alcohol could be used. Thanks for any suggestions.

Regards,

D-Ray
Click to expand...

I have never messed with these but I did read a recent thread where everyone pretty much agreed these are nothing but a PITA. Suggestions varied widely. A hot air gun or a soldering iron on the back of the metal basket was suggested as a way to soften the glue. Solvents should be tested to prevent marring the plastic ring itself. I think more often than not, most ended up breaking a ring or two. Good Luck!
 
double check that the plastic ring is fully glued : I know on some others of that vintage that had tiny plastic tabs (part of the ring) push through corresponding holes in the woofer frame : they went through the frame and were then melted to create a mechanical bond : break these off (if they are there) you might be in business

good luck
 
Oddly enough, I just received a pair of RS-4001s today and they have plastic rings on the woofers. I simply pushed up on one part with my thumbs and constant pressure pushed it away from the basket. The glue was compliant and stretchy, not hard. Mine had been sitting in the sun on a warm day so I might suggest trying a heat gun or hair-dryer if they just won't budge with pressure alone. They actually came off pretty easily. I hope yours do, too.
 
You could try prying the o rings off the basket...and please use a razor blade while youre at it!......It will help immensly.
 
I had to recently redo the surrounds on a pair of RS-2001's and they also had plastic rings on them. I only paid $10 for the pair so I just pulled them off. As the poster said regarding his RS-4001's, it was fairly easy and there was no damage to anything (other than the glue).

I used Aleene's Tacky Glue to put them back on and they are holding steady -- tight and no rattling. ;)
 
Noting that the basket edge fit in a channel on the trim-ring, I'd apply heat to the backside of the basket rather than on the ring itself. This is from my experience with the stamped-steel baskets on the RS-4001s. I'm sure Infinity must have also used some cast baskets so the attachment may be different on those.
 
its much easier than it looks initially...chase the gap, (what little of it there is) between ring and basket with a razor knife. apply some "Goo Gone" and let it work for a while, perhaps an hour or so...I then very slowly, using a long knife or screwdriver, gently begin prying the two apart, never forcing..slow, steady pressure..when enough of a gap is there, shoot more Goo Gone into the area of adhesion...slow and steady, and it'll yield..done it many times...you'll laugh when you see how simple it is..:thmbsp:
 
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I think I will put a little heat to the basket. If that only gets me a little gap, I will hit it with some GooGone - and a little patience. I am anxious to hear these, but it looks like I have some time for patience. I found that I only have one 3" surround. I ordered a couple more pairs last night. (All told, I ordered 7 pair of surrounds for less than one of the kits offered by others). Thanks again for the help.

Regards,

D-Ray
 
The combination of suggestions worked. Using my fancy heat gun (a hair dryer from the thrift store), I heated around the underside of the flange. That loosened the adhesive enough to get enough leverage to get a screw driver under the ring. Withe the glue softened up, the hold gave way without having to apply enough force the break the rings.

Man, I am anxious to hear these, but I gotta wait until my order of 3" surrounds arrives. I also picked up a set of similarly sized Infinity SL 40s this week. Hooked those up in the living room and was pleasantly surprised at how good they sounded - better than the Klipsch KG 3.5 I was also auditioning. With the EMIT tweeter so much has been written about, the Reference Fours should put on an even better performance.

Thanks again, all for the helpful suggestions.

Regards,

D-Ray
 
d-ray657 said:
The combination of suggestions worked. Using my fancy heat gun (a hair dryer from the thrift store), I heated around the underside of the flange. That loosened the adhesive enough to get enough leverage to get a screw driver under the ring. Withe the glue softened up, the hold gave way without having to apply enough force the break the rings.

Man, I am anxious to hear these, but I gotta wait until my order of 3" surrounds arrives. I also picked up a set of similarly sized Infinity SL 40s this week. Hooked those up in the living room and was pleasantly surprised at how good they sounded - better than the Klipsch KG 3.5 I was also auditioning. With the EMIT tweeter so much has been written about, the Reference Fours should put on an even better performance.

Thanks again, all for the helpful suggestions.

Regards,

D-Ray
Click to expand...

glad the ring removal went well...always more than one way to skin a cat, to be sure...there are so many resourceful and helpful folks here..I've gotten the routine down pat with the GooGone..usually takes only a couple of mins for each one...

I still have a pair of Reference 4's myself...something about them that makes them sound really fine...very much a sleeper pair of speakers...playing in unison with my RS 4000's, they are quite complimentary..:yes:
 
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