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Topic: Help for my Goodrich Steelman Dual Photocell |
Kerry Hutcherson
From:
Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Posted 19 Nov 2010 9:18 am |
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Hi folks,
I purchased a Goodrich Steelman Dual Photocell volume pedal from eBay about 1.5 years ago. It has worked wonderfully up until about three weeks ago, when I started noticing a problem.
Here's the problem: when the pedal is in the "toe up" position some volume still comes through my amp (normally NO signal should be coming through the amp in the "toe up" position). Then, when I move my toe slightly downward, the signal cuts out and I get no volume through my amp. Finally, if I keep moving my toe downward, the signal comes back in and I get a normal volume level (relative to the position of the pedal) all the way up to the complete "toe down" position.
I'm not an electrical engineer, and I'm not very mechanically or electronically-minded, so my only guess as to the cause of this problem was that perhaps something was going awry with the photocells. I've seen the insides of some of these pedals before, so I sort of know what a normally-functioning pedal looks like. Normally, the photocells are pointed toward two narrow panels that are attached by some kind of adhesive to a larger wooden panel. When I opened the access panel of my pedal and looked inside, I noticed that the adhesive on the two small panels had partially failed and both panels had started to fall away from the larger wooden panel. I don't know if this is causing my problem, but it was the only abnormal thing that I noticed when I checked the photocells.
Has anyone else run into this problem? Does anyone have any suggestions for repairing the pedal? I should note that so far this problem has not limited my playing that much because it is rare that I do really extreme pedal swells that go from a full "toe up" position to a "toe down" position, so I'm hesitant to get in there and tinker around and risk causing a bigger problem. |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 19 Nov 2010 3:43 pm
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| The problem you describe sounds like a damaged masking plate or more likely the pedal's upper travel stop, either way some light is getting through to the cells when it should not be. Take a look at the stop bumper that is supposed to control the toes-up travel and no doubt you will find it damaged or worn, if so you can get you some Alabama chrome and fix 'er up right there! |
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Kerry Hutcherson
From:
Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Posted 19 Nov 2010 4:22 pm Goodrich photocell
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Thanks, David! I have two questions: 1) What does the masking plate look like? and 2) Am I correct in assuming that AL chrome is duct tape?  |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 19 Nov 2010 5:14 pm
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1) I just opened up my old "Steel Man" dual cell unit for the first time and now see that it is a different design from what I described earlier. There is a square wooden baffle in front of the bulbs that moves with the top of the pedal, controlling how much light gets through to the cells. The wood on mine is a bit warped and split from the years of heat but it still works perfectly, however if the damage was bad enough it would definitely let some light through when it was not wanted. Also there does not appear to be any way for excessive travel to cause your problem, eliminating that issue, so I suspect baffle damage or mis-aligned bulbs in your case.
2) Correct.
Last edited by Dave Grafe on 19 Nov 2010 5:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Jim Palenscar
From:
Oceanside, Calif, USA
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Posted 19 Nov 2010 5:42 pm
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| Sometimes what happens with those is that the fiber plate gets loose from the steel spring wire that retains it and the retaining wire simply needs to be put back in the small detent on the fiber board that has the "v" on it. It usually become quite clear when the bottom plate of the volume pedal is removed with the four feet. |
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Gary Cosden
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 20 Nov 2010 6:18 pm
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| I bought one of these pedals in the late '70s and it worked just fine until a tear or so ago. What Jim says is spot on - I had to re-align the fiber plate on the clip a few times over the years. Not being able to find parts or repair service for my pedal I just gutted it and made it into a pot pedal! It works really nicely and while the original was a good pedal I think I like it even better as a pot pedal! |
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Kerry Hutcherson
From:
Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Posted 23 Dec 2010 7:22 am Thanks!
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| Hey guys, thanks for your help. I think my problem was the result of two things. First, the photocells have started to come unglued from the wooden baffle. Second, the wooden baffle was slightly out of place. I re-secured the cells and the baffle, so I hope that does the trick. I'll find out at rehearsal later today! |
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Kerry Hutcherson
From:
Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Posted 24 Dec 2010 7:49 am I fixed it!
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Hey guys,
Thanks for the advice. After I re-secured the photocells and the baffle I played a rehearsal and a gig with the pedal. It worked like new! |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 27 Dec 2010 9:37 am
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| Excellent, perseverence furthers! |
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