Stupid Question 101...Boss-Style DC Jacks

[Philippe]

Received some black plastic DC jacks (Boss style) & several of the plastic nuts are screwed on so tightly that I cannot remove them in order to mount the jacks.

Usually I'll just toss out the troublesome ones but was wondering if there is an effective & non-destructive method of getting them off. Being plastic I don't want to chew them up so badly that they end-up looking like sh*t. Tried some graphite & a pair of vise-grips but to no avail.

[BDuguay]

They're so tight that vise-grips didn't work?
I'd send them back from where they came and ask for replacements.

[Philippe]

They're so tight that vise-grips didn't work?
I'd send them back from where they came and ask for replacements.

Roger on the failed vise-grips + there really isn't much material to use for leverage being that the front of the jack is relatively flat & thin.

You're right...it's probably better to return them. It's these kind of CS hassles + the lost time that really annoy me when it comes to DIYing & it's not just limited to building stompboxes.

[greaser_au]

I had a production run of 80 boxes (NOT effects  ) to build that used the plastic DC jacks. I found that vice-grips and pliers are likely to force the plastic nut out-of round & cause the threads to bind even more.  I'd definitely recommend a suitably-sized ring-spanner (or socket)!

best wishes,
david

[Philippe]

Came up with a solution (albeit a somewhat time consuming one)...then again, it might be feasible if one is building a number of fxs.

Got exasperated & decided to spray a little WD40 around the frozen threads. Initially it made no difference but FIVE HOURS later the plastic nuts started to come loose. The WD40 was applied sparingly with the little red plastic tube applicator & I was careful not to get that oily stuff all over the to-be-soldered connectors as well as the opening for the DC jack.

[Barcode80]

adjustable pliers with some protective paper towel around the thin face of the jack, wrench on the other. Always works for me in a snap.