Has anyone rebuilt a multi-cap can?

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I used to when I was doing more commercial stuff. I would use a tubing cutter to cut the can apart down low, then dig out the goo. Be careful with the crap that comes out, it will make you itch and wouldn't be good for a pet to get ahold of. I used large heat shrink and insulated the whole cap (new ones inside). It's really pretty easy, just messy.
 
Hmm looks like I need to pick up a tubing cutter then. I've got a couple pieces that could deal with new caps, and they don't have the room under the chassis to stick new ones.
 
I used to redo twist-lok-lytics back in the day. I was usually successful at using wire cutters to gently uncurl the lip at the bottom that held the bakelite terminal base and grounding twist tab ringlet in place. Then it was pick, pick, pick all the gobbletygook out of the thing. Heat would sometimes help ease things along, but only in a ventilated area so I didn't have to cope with the fumes quite so much....

Then arrange axial capacitors with sleeving on their leads in such a way that they'd fit in the can and lead out to the proper terminals. I usually ran out the common ground lead as well through a fresh drilling in the bakelite base to run to one of the twistlok terminals to ensure a proper connection. Then I'd mix up almost the entire two-tube package of epoxy and fill the can of new caps, then connect the free lead ends to the terminals in the bakelite wafer base, then more epoxy as I stuffed the mess back together and then carefully rolled the aluminum back over the edge of the base wafer to hold it in place. If the rerolling was not as neat it didn't matter, as only the chassis plate would see it.... The fix would usually look pretty original in appearance when done.

That was then, and this is now. Age tends to cause such ambition to wane. Mostly I just leave the old can as it is, disconnect all the ungrounded terminals, and set up an array of separates underneath the chassis. There are many other things in my life to hold my attention and consume my energy that weren't there when I was a kid and doing such exacting resto work.
 
Hi NY,

The cans are not re-riveted back on the chassis. What you see is the phenolic insulator that accepts the can to the chassis. In the case of this Marantz the can is insulated from the chassis with this insulator. The can slips through the slots on the insulator and then the tabs are twisted on the can to lock it in place.

Tubing cutter is best. Other methods like jewler's saw or wire nippers etc. will work but if neatness counts at all other methods will not satisfy.

BTW Part 2 of the Marantz rehab is here:

http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/vintage/messages/17/172832.html

Good luck with your project.

Kcin
 
To bad some one didn't sell empty cans which could be stuffed by a hobbyist, Zack got their cans from somewhere and did just that.
 
Excellent thread and just in time for the winter project season!

Learning how to rebuild old twist lock cans is something I've been wanting to do for a long time.

My vintage Marantz gear is still running on the original cans with no problems, but I want to master the proper restoration technique just in case.

Practicing on a multi-thousand dollar tubed Marantz is out of the question.

For my first can stuffing restoration, I decided to use a near mint factory wired Dynaco SCA-35 that I recently got on evilBay.

I plan to restore this thing a-la-Marantz. The goal is to have it perform like new but without altering the appearance. The little Dynaco is often butchered with new parts, but this one will get the royal treatment.

I have just ordered miniature Nichicon electrolytics from Mouser.

I will also pick up a pipe cutter.

Stay tuned for a dedicated thread in the near future! :D
 
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Isn't it possible to buy some of these Cap Cans in NOS? I have seen some offered at Antique Electronic Supply.
 
Isn't it possible to buy some of these Cap Cans in NOS? I have seen some offered at Antique Electronic Supply.

Yes, this would be ideal.

Given that the shelf life of modern miniature electrolytics is very long, it is feasible to have a stock of rebuilt cans in case the need arises.

For this, obtaining a lot of NOS twist locks would be perfect for the job.
 
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