Tubes won't fit

[Krishk]

Hi, I'm  pretty new to building tube amps, and I just got to the glow test of the bottlehead crack. The manual states that I need to insert the tubes into the 9 pin and 8 pin sockets, but the tubes won't fit into the sockets. I checked twice to see if I installed the sockets correctly and I did. Is there a special method not mentioned in the manual to insert the tubes? Is it possible I was sent the wrong tubes or somehow damaged the sockets? Thanks

 

[Jameson]

Do you have the pins oriented properly? There’s a gap in the pins to help you orient them, and a tab in the middle post of the 6080

 

[Krishk]

Do you have the pins oriented properly? There’s a gap in the pins to help you orient them, and a tab in the middle post of the 6080

I see now thank you, I just had to apply a bit more force to the smaller tube to fit it in the pins.  Once again thanks for the help

 

[adydula]

Let me add this:

If you plan on tube swapping in search for audi nirvana, remember the force it took you to insert etc.

When you try to remove vacuum tubes you will pull and gently rock a little back and forth to get the tube to come out.

At the same time the pins in the tube socket are going to move and if your solder joints are not good wires, connections may come loose or
crack in the solder joints..

So make sure those solder joints are really good and be careful removing and replacing....

FYI...YMMV

Alex

 

[Krishk]

Let me add this:

If you plan on tube swapping in search for audi nirvana, remember the force it took you to insert etc.

When you try to remove vacuum tubes you will pull and gently rock a little back and forth to get the tube to come out.

At the same time the pins in the tube socket are going to move and if your solder joints are not good wires, connections may come loose or
crack in the solder joints..

So make sure those solder joints are really good and be careful removing and replacing....

FYI...YMMV

Alex

Thank you for the tip will definitely into consideration. Is it typical for force to be used when inserting and removing tubes?

 

[Paul Birkeland]

If it requires no force to push the tube into the socket, then the socket won't make good contact with the tube pins and it needs to be replaced.