Tubes won't install?

[dawnchorus]

I'm sure this is a pretty stupid question but I couldn't find anything via the search, how am I supposed to install both of the tubes into the sockets? I got the pins to line up but the tubes won't press in all the way and I'm afraid to force it since its resisting so much.

[Paul Birkeland]

Which of the tubes is presenting you with this issue, or is it both?

[diynewbie]

I had difficulty inserting the tubes the first time.  In my case, the problem was misalignment of pins conjoined with the same wire (A4-A5 and B5-B2).  A slight bend to the wires fixed the problem for me.

[dawnchorus]

Which of the tubes is presenting you with this issue, or is it both?

It's both of them. I got both about half way in with a good amount of wiggling back and forth but am afraid to press much harder in case I break them

[dawnchorus]

I had difficulty inserting the tubes the first time.  In my case, the problem was misalignment of pins conjoined with the same wire (A4-A5 and B5-B2).  A slight bend to the wires fixed the problem for me.

 I bent the wires to add a little more flexibility and was able to push the tubes a little further but they are still resisting quite a bit.

[Doc B.]

It may just be a tight fit, or you may have solder in the pin holes of the socket.

[dawnchorus]

It may just be a tight fit, or you may have solder in the pin holes of the socket.

I do think there might be some solder that ran down into some of the the pin sockets. I tired to remove as much as I could and finally got the tubes to fit, although with a lot of wiggling and pressing. But they are in and I'm listening and it sounds fantastic!

I'm planning to install the Speedball sometime this week and I'll try to see if there is more solder blocking the pins. Any tips on getting it out? I've just been heating the bottom of the pin socket and trying to wick up as much as I could.

[Paul Birkeland]

Gravity and a spring loaded solder sucker can get a lot of that out pretty quickly. 

-PB

[dawnchorus]

I've got another question. After a few days of listening my driver tube is getting some burn marks as visible in the 2 photos. Being new to tubes I'm not sure if this is normal or if my tubes are running too hot?

[Doc B.]

It's perfectly normal.