BillFitzmaurice.info

So, I was listening to the Jacks in my garage while washing the car in the driveway (because why not while I have them!) and I went to move the electric pressure washer. What I didn't know is that the extension cord had gotten wrapped around the back side of the amp and mixer, and moving the pressure washer pulled on the cord and sent both crashing to the ground. 100% my fault. I went over to pick everything up and assess the damage and noticed only one Jack was working. After some troubleshooting, I found that one of the amp channels had quit. Power cycling obviously did not work. I noticed some crackling through the Jack when I moved the amp, so I thought to myself, "Self, since a smack to the ground broke this thing, would a good smack fix it?" So I lifted that side of the amp up and dropped it from about 2-3 inches. *crackle crackle pop!* I did it again and POOF! Music start coming out of the Jack nice and clear. Working fine now, though I know something is probably loose inside. Good ol' percussive maintenance.

That got me thinking. I'm sure many of you have stories of using percussive maintenance to fix something, or McGivering something to get it working while in the field. I love stories like this. What's your most memorable time(s) where you had to get creative and use the spitball, bubble gum, paper clip, hammer, duct tape, etc method in a pinch?

Oh, my goodness! To find that the amp started working again is incredible!
I think that the amp should have it's internals inspected to see where the fault lies. I have a concern. There might be internal shorting, and possible electrocution.

Yeah, no kidding. I do plan to take the cover off and inspect. My guess is one of the solder joints came loose

Edit: took the cover off and figured out the issue: bad wiring harness between the channel volume potentiometer and the channel's board. Low voltage connection thankfully.

Yeah,
my sister in-laws in-line hot water heating pump in Lemans France in 1988, probably a 1950/60 installation, it wasn't working so i asked her if she had a hammer she produced what I would call a "toffee hammer", tiny little thing probably all of four ounces, I gave the pump a rap and away it went, she still keeps the hammer near the pump and uses it to this day.

Old Mike wrote: ↑Sat May 31, 2025 7:53 pm Yeah,
my sister in-laws in-line hot water heating pump in Lemans France in 1988, probably a 1950/60 installation, it wasn't working so i asked her if she had a hammer she produced what I would call a "toffee hammer", tiny little thing probably all of four ounces, I gave the pump a rap and away it went, she still keeps the hammer near the pump and uses it to this day.

I'm inclined to think that the pump rotor shaft bushings are worn, thus causing it to hang up/hold onto the field coils/magnet.

My wife has found that a good smack upside the noggin' often gets the object of said adjustment to start working again.

How's your head Bruce???? LOL.

Bruce Weldy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 01, 2025 3:51 pm My wife has found that a good smack upside the noggin' often gets the object of said adjustment to start working again.

Tom Smit wrote: ↑Sun Jun 01, 2025 9:54 pm How's your head Bruce???? LOL.

The problems heretofore mentioned are ongoing and repeated correction seems to be needed to attain the proper outcome.....for her.

Well I think I know who this emoji is for:

Tom Smit wrote: ↑Sat May 31, 2025 10:32 pm

Old Mike wrote: ↑Sat May 31, 2025 7:53 pm Yeah,
my sister in-laws in-line hot water heating pump in Lemans France in 1988, probably a 1950/60 installation, it wasn't working so i asked her if she had a hammer she produced what I would call a "toffee hammer", tiny little thing probably all of four ounces, I gave the pump a rap and away it went, she still keeps the hammer near the pump and uses it to this day.

I'm inclined to think that the pump rotor shaft bushings are worn, thus causing it to hang up/hold onto the field coils/magnet.

I know that my bushings are definitely shot and my magnetic field collapsed years ago.

Bruce Weldy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 01, 2025 3:51 pm My wife has found that a good smack upside the noggin' often gets the object of said adjustment to start working again.

shane2943 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 02, 2025 12:17 pm Well I think I know who this emoji is for

Could the coding for that emoji be changed to ":Bruce:"