My nuts dropped...... Am I in over my head?

[LowDesertSludge]

Pulled the handle off my Marshall and my light bracket dropped down onto the chassis. I pulled the rear panel off and looked around, but I don't see any loose hardware laying anywhere. I fear they might have fallen into the wide socket space (behind my twin EL34's in the pic). The amp has been not been turned on for at least 2 months, unplugged for for a little over a month. Am I safe enough to unbolt the chassis from the shell and take a peek? I see 4 large phillips screws at each corner. Okay to give it a go? I have grounded myself from any static electricity as well. I'm 2 Gerald Weber books in, and still feel very sketchy attempting this Noob level task.

I appreciate any insight, and flame away if you must, I have thick alligator skin.

 

[lespaul6]

Yes... go

keep one hand in your pocket if you're poking around in there

 

[maddnotez]

Yes... go

keep one hand in your pocket if you're poking around in there

I'm not qualified to give advice on topic but this guys right. 1 hand in back pocket always.

 

[LowDesertSludge]

Well I didn't find any hardware floating around inside the chassis. I gave a few gentle shakes and not one loose part dropped out. Maybe they slid out the vertical slots in the rear. Oh well, all back together and works fine. Left the handle off and disconnected the overhead lamps from a plug-In connection on the chassis. Still a little nerve racking.

 

[PatF]

Dude, if you dropped something in there, you must get it out. It could bounce around in there and short something out.

You most likely need to take the chassis out, yank the tubes, and shake that fucker over your head.

You'll have figure out where to connect to discharge the filter caps. Get one of those 12” alligator clip leads, cut it in half and solder in a 10K-100K 1 watt resistor and cover it with heat shrink.

 

[sahlomonic]

Here's a good video to get you started

 

[gibson08]

If some metal pieces fell into the amp, I would not turn it on again until those pieces are found.

 

[LowDesertSludge]

Believe me, I won't power it until I am 100% positive its clear. This is like losing your last pick in your acoustic but worse.