Combo jack surgery?

BrianHanke · 19th October 2009

A few weeks ago I inserted a TRS connector into one of the combo jacks on my audio interface. For some reason the tip of the connector got stuck; I pulled hard to remove the plug and the tip separated and remained firmly lodged at the bottom of the jack.

Is there any way to remove the stuck tip? I unscrewed the case of the interface, but saw no way to get access inside the combo jacks. Any suggestions are appreciated!

Thomas W. Bethe · 19th October 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianHanke

A few weeks ago I inserted a TRS connector into one of the combo jacks on my audio interface. For some reason the tip of the connector got stuck; I pulled hard to remove the plug and the tip separated and remained firmly lodged at the bottom of the jack.

Is there any way to remove the stuck tip? I unscrewed the case of the interface, but saw no way to get access inside the combo jacks. Any suggestions are appreciated!

I had this happen to me and I was able to find a screw that was long enough and screw it into the tip and remove the tip with a pair of pliers. If there is nothing to screw into then this method will not work. I guess you could take out the connector, drill a small hole in the middle of the connector put in a small knitting needle and push it out from the backside. Hope this helps. Let us know what you finally do as this can occur more frequently than the connector manufactures would like to admit.

BrianHanke · 19th October 2009

Many thanks! I'll have a crack at it this week and report back.

BrianHanke · 20th October 2009

Success! Following your excellent advice I inserted a long screw, put a lot of downward pressure and slowly tightened it. It took a few tries for it to catch, but at last I was able to pull it with my pliers. After a massive and startling snap the tip popped out. Wow, it was really wedged in there. I tested all the combo jacks and they're working just fine, so I guess I didn't do any damage. Thanks for your help!

Thomas W. Bethe · 21st October 2009

Glad it worked - NOT FUN!!!! to get them out.

BrianHanke · 21st October 2009

Definitely not fun...

**Remoteness** · 21st October 2009

Sweet!!! (with a high pitched voice)

That's good news for sure!

19th October 2009	#1
BrianHanke Gear addict Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 446 Thread Starter	Combo jack surgery? A few weeks ago I inserted a TRS connector into one of the combo jacks on my audio interface. For some reason the tip of the connector got stuck; I pulled hard to remove the plug and the tip separated and remained firmly lodged at the bottom of the jack. Is there any way to remove the stuck tip? I unscrewed the case of the interface, but saw no way to get access inside the combo jacks. Any suggestions are appreciated!

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20th October 2009	#4
BrianHanke Gear addict Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 446 Thread Starter	Success! Following your excellent advice I inserted a long screw, put a lot of downward pressure and slowly tightened it. It took a few tries for it to catch, but at last I was able to pull it with my pliers. After a massive and startling snap the tip popped out. Wow, it was really wedged in there. I tested all the combo jacks and they're working just fine, so I guess I didn't do any damage. Thanks for your help!

21st October 2009	#5
Thomas W. Bethe Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2005 Location: Oberlin, Ohio Posts: 3,273 1 Review written	Glad it worked - NOT FUN!!!! to get them out.

21st October 2009	#7
Remoteness Super Moderator Joined: Aug 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 7,405	Sweet!!! (with a high pitched voice) That's good news for sure!