Sticky needle

  • Thread starter Thread starter famous beagle
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famous beagle

famous beagle

Well-known member
Hey y'all, I just bought a Summit Audio TLA-50 compressor from GC used, and everything seems to work great on it, but, the VU meter needle sticks sometimes. All it takes is a flick on the faceplate to unstick it.

Does anyone have experience with this and know what's usually involved in the fix?

Thanks
 
Yeah...a new VU meter. :D

Don't let it bother you.
My MX-80 has a few channels where the needle will stick if I'm hitting them hard with signal...and I do the same thing, tap them with my finger to release.

I've taken apart one awhile back (kids, don't do this at home)...and tried to see what makes it do that, and if it was fixable, but it's a very delicate mechanism, and at most, you just fuck it up more.
I think once they are "stretched" beyond a certain point, they are then prone to keep sticking with higher signals.
I've got a bunch of brand new VU meters for the MX-80...and I have little motivation to swap them out just because of the sticking.

If you can calibrate it and make sure it's displaying the correct levels, and it works most of the time OK...just keep taping it...it's just a meter.
 
Ok cool, thanks. I guess it's not a big deal or anything. I got a good deal on it ($375), so I don't want to return it if I don't have to. I'll just have to make sure and thoroughly test drive it to make sure that's its only "feature" before my return period expires.
 
Most VU meters have an adjustment screw...so do what you need to to calibrate it for correct VU display...and see if that adjustment helps.
Not sure if this is used...but maybe the previous owner messed with that, and turned too far, so the meter reads too hot with lower signals, and then sticks.
Beyond that...I wouldn't mess with it further, but if anyone knows if a true "fix" for sticky meters even when they are properly calibrated...I would like to hear it.
Like a watch mechanism...very easy to damage when you get in there.
 
miroslav said:
Most VU meters have an adjustment screw...so do what you need to to calibrate it for correct VU display...and see if that adjustment helps.
Not sure if this is used...but maybe the previous owner messed with that, and turned too far, so the meter reads too hot with lower signals, and then sticks.
Beyond that...I wouldn't mess with it further, but if anyone knows if a true "fix" for sticky meters even when they are properly calibrated...I would like to hear it.
Like a watch mechanism...very easy to damage when you get in there.
Click to expand...

It is used (that's why I got a good deal on it.) This issue doesn't have anything to do with levels. It sometimes happens when I first turn it on before I run any signal through it. I switch the meter to gain reduction, and instead of moving to zero like it should, it barely moves at all. Then I flick the face, and it snaps to zero. It doesn't happen every time either; just enough to be a little annoying. I have calibrated the meter, so that wasn't a fix.

Oh well. I really like the unit, so aside from any other issues I find with it, I supposed I'll deal with it.
 
Maybe it's just got some gunk making it stick...it doesn't take much.
You could open it and very gently clean around the mechanism. Alcohol spray would be best, so you don't have to touch it, and the alcohol would flush away any gunk and evaporate.

Could it be that the needle is maybe rubbing on the cover or some other spot...?

Heck...I bet you can get a new meter from Summit for it....couldn't possibly cost too much.
Give them a call...see what they say.
Those are nice comps...worth fixing it up.
 
Are you sure the needle isn't just hanging on the lense? I've had a meter with a tweaked needle that would hang on the lense. Re-tweaked and good to go.
 
Yup...that's what I was getting at. It doesn't take much rub for them to stick...they are very light, and so is the spring that moves them.
 
Maybe try some anti static stuff first?
I've seen them hang up just from that.

Then again maybe I'm just full of it :D
More often I've had the needle scrape on the lens.
 
Thanks for the tips y'all. I haven't opened it up yet to see if the needle's making contact with the plastic, but I'll check it out and see what I can see.
 
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