However, I did notice on installing it that inside the vent screen, about a third of the way between the vent hole and the back of the dust cap, there appears to be a thin piece of foam sheet that seems to have deteriorated and a piece of this foam has fallen down and is sliding around on the back of the dust cap.

Is this going to be a problem? The speaker sounds fine when I play.

If this is a problem, how do I go about removing the wayward piece of foam?

Thanks!

------------------

The grey area on the bottom of the circle is the remaining foam. The white area on top is where the missing piece was.

I imagine the foam was meant to keep dust from getting into the back of the dust cap and the voice coil. But it seems like a moot point now since half the foam is gone anyway.

Should I just replace the screen and label and forget about the foam (since I wouldn't be able to put it back in its original position anyway) or should I try to rig another piece of foam, possibly on the back of the speaker?

I'm not particulary interested in spending the money for a recone since the speaker seems to be in good shape otherwise. Why do these things happen to me?...

------------------

Instead of foam, cut a piece out of your wife's, girlfriend's, or neighbor's old panty-hose, and use that! Just cut a 2" square, and glue it right under the screen. It'll last a long, long time, and it'll never turn to powder like that foam does.

NOTE: Prior to replacement procedure, clean work area of all metal objects and other debris.

1. With speaker lying face down, remove the three screws on back of the magnet structure with 7/16" nut driver.

2. After screws are removed, lift the magnet structure off the basket frame.

3. Clean the voice coil "gap" before the magnet structure is put on new replacement basket (as shown below). Fold a piece of masking tape over on itself several times, sticky side out, and insert it into the voice coil "gap." Run it all the way around the "gap" several times to remove all particles of metal and other trash before magnet structure is put on new replacement basket.

4. Holding magnet structure in slanted position, gently lower the structure down onto the basket so that it rests inside the magnet structure counter bore, being sure to align the screw holes, and lower the structure down into place. Insert screws and tighten.

I have never pulled the magnet off a BW speaker, but from the illustration (which I couldn't include here) the voice coil gap is on the side of the magnet that faces the speaker basket. Also, in Step 4, the illustration shows one edge of the magnet being positioned against one edge of the basket (the "counter bore" I guess) and then being lowered the rest of the way into position.

Hope this helps!

------------------

I followed the instructions Mark posted and removed the magnet from the speaker. (Yes, Jim Bob, you can do it!) There were pieces of foam laying everywhere. I carefully pulled the largest piece of foam away from the aluminum dome and then used a piece of tape to remove the rest of the debris. Everything cleaned up nicely. I also cleaned out the gap, or channel, that is on the magnet. The hardest part was lining up the magnet over the speaker properly. Once I did that, the magnet went right back into place and I replaced the bolts that hold it into place.

I plugged my Mullen back into it and fired it up again. Wow! What a difference. That great sound was back again.

Thanks guys for posting this information. I wonder how many other speakers are out there, in need of this simple overhaul.

------------------
Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

I imagine now that most old speakers have this problem. If the foam appears to be intact, I would say DON'T TOUCH IT; it is probably so brittle it would fall apart if you did. If you can see it sliding around on the back of the dust cap, it might be a good idea to try to get it out.

------------------