Gooped - anyway to get this splooge off

[ibenhad]

I so far love this amp and would love to keep it. But the black splooge makes me nervous. Anybody have any experience getting the goop off? I am not going to do it now as I believe if it aint broke don't fix it but I would be embarrassed to take this to my tech. Funny I just got a Randall Module from one of the "Famous" modders and it seems to be splooged on a bit too. Anyway not trolling and 100% serious. Thanks and happy holidays to all.

 

[LP Freak]

I so far love this amp and would love to keep it. But the black splooge makes me nervous. Anybody have any experience getting the goop off? I am not going to do it now as I believe if it aint broke don't fix it but I would be embarrassed to take this to my tech. Funny I just got a Randall Module from one of the "Famous" modders and it seems to be splooged on a bit too. Anyway not trolling and 100% serious. Thanks and happy holidays to all.

Is this a Cameron mod?

 

[Anonymous]

In an attempt to help out the OP, would anyone here be able to identify what it is that most of these modders have used to cover most of the boards with? If you find out what material is used to cover the mods, then all you would have to do is get yourself some spare resistors and such, then cover one or a few and do a bunch of different tests of trying to remove this substance instead of playing Frankenstein on the inside of your amps themselves!

Also, can anyone here verify if there is any way to open up the guts of the amp while running and to safely use a multimeter somehow to determine what the values of those goop covered resistors or any other part that may be covered as well on the board is? This would ultimately be the most reliable and safe way if you are unsure of what is what on your board... just some ideas, and hopefully someone can chime in on this. I have always wondered these things myself.

 

[LP Freak]

One reason for the goop is to conseal the values on the caps and resistors on their mod.....so think about what you're asking.

 

[Heritage Softail]

It would seem it is difficult to remove by design.

More importantly, why hate on black splooge? If it was white would it be ok? Sounds like racist splooge hatin....

 

[LP Freak]

It would seem it is difficult to remove by design.

More importantly, why hate on black splooge? If it was white would it be ok? Sounds like racist splooge hatin....

Maybe next time request clear goop.

 

[Motorpud]

Seems like if it was a Cameron mod you'd be better off keeping the goo there. In my mind it would lend to the authenticity if it were to fall into question seeing how it's pretty well known he did this.

 

[rupe]

 

[Heritage Softail]

In an attempt to help out the OP, would anyone here be able to identify what it is that most of these modders have used to cover most of the boards with? If you find out what material is used to cover the mods, then all you would have to do is get yourself some spare resistors and such, then cover one or a few and do a bunch of different tests of trying to remove this substance instead of playing Frankenstein on the inside of your amps themselves!

Also, can anyone here verify if there is any way to open up the guts of the amp while running and to safely use a multimeter somehow to determine what the values of those goop covered resistors or any other part that may be covered as well on the board is? This would ultimately be the most reliable and safe way if you are unsure of what is what on your board... just some ideas, and hopefully someone can chime in on this. I have always wondered these things myself.

This would seem like a possibility. But, there are lots of funny thins that happen electrically. A resistor has a different voltage drop depending on if it is applied in parallel or series. In a pile of goop you may not know. You may not be able to get to the leads with a board plugged in.

Of course you could get electrocuted. If you are sitting on a metal work stool.. There could be a path to ground thru your left nut for 600 volts.. You could literally lose your left nut trying to find the right resistor....

It's not worth it. Spend time searching for the G spot, not a resistor value.

 

[Skrapmetal]

If it sounds right, leave it alone. Who cares what the guts look like?

I bet your guts are pretty goopy, too.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

I've seen some pics of successful de-gooping but don't know how much effort is involved, interesting to know what's involved though.

 

[gtrwun]

Nothing to be embarrassed about taking the amp to your tech. You didn't put the stuff in their. I would also add, the odds that you tech would need to replace a gooped component is slim in my experience. Just play and enjoy your amp. We just survived the end of the world...all is good in life!

 

[lester]

B. Need to remove the potting material from the device?

There are two ways to remove potting compound either physically or chemically remove it. To physically remove the potting compound it is common to heat the part until the potting compound becomes soft and it can be torn off. If it is a high Tg potting compound it could be cooled and then hit to shatter the resin since it is brittle at low (-40C) temperatures. Chemical removal of the potting compound is done by soaking in solvents to soften the resin so it can be torn off. The solvents are toxic so care must be used. Commercial mixtures are available - IV. Potting Dissolving Chemicals:

1. Dynaloy Inc.,1910 S. State Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46203 Phone: 800-669-5709 Fax:
800-671-9583
or
http://kevtris.org/Projects/votraxpss/unpot.html

 

[bhuard75]

Resisters and capacitors can be measured with a meter regardless of what they have on them. Power is never to be applied when measuring resistance or capacitance in any application.

 

[glip22]

Nothing to be embarrassed about taking the amp to your tech. You didn't put the stuff in their. I would also add, the odds that you tech would need to replace a gooped component is slim in my experience. Just play and enjoy your amp. We just survived the end of the world...all is good in life!

This. Its nothing more than 100% silicone. It insulates the components and lowers vibration in the critical first stages of the preamp. It can be removed but its not fun. You might ruin things because it gets under the components in between the board and legs. You may lift solder tabs trying to get it out. I like the shiny black goop. I know exactly what it is and have bought it at home depot.

 

[steve_k]

Goop sounds better vs. plain.....

 

[joepete77]

Goop sounds better vs. plain.....

Is really a Cameron modded gooped amp in this pic? I know it pops up every now and again but just wandering if it really is.

 

[MrDan666]

Depends what was used to goop the amp.. The tricky stuff is the 2 part epoxy that cures rock hard. Lots of people just slap on the flexible RTV silicone on parts of amps, not always to cover things up but just to hold parts in place. That's been the case with several Camerons that i repaired in the past, the goop was just holding stuff together and not really covering anything up..

 

[ibenhad]

Resisters and capacitors can be measured with a meter regardless of what they have on them. Power is never to be applied when measuring resistance or capacitance in any application.

Wrong the cap's need to be removed from the circuit in order to test. Plus if it is bad and gooped how will I know the value to replace. It doesn't matter who gooped the amp. The question was simple. How do you remove it? I may or may not keep the amp based on the answer. I have tons of amps and not one that is gooped. I am not looking for a way to un-conceal what was done. I am concerned with future repair. As anyone using tube amps knows the heat and such does a number on Cap's and they do go bad. Resistors less of an issue but it is a concern.

 

[steve_k]

Goop sounds better vs. plain.....

Is really a Cameron modded gooped amp in this pic? I know it pops up every now and again but just wandering if it really is.

Yeah, it's mine. Canadian JCM800. 50 watt Jose.