One way to speed up that process is to ground the plate cap of the tube with 
a screwdriver.  Just make sure you don't become part of the ground path, and 
that you do this with the amplifier unplugged.

Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ed Malmgren" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 13:30
Subject: Re: Kevin's amplifier tuning cheat sheet


>    You can't plug 811 tubes in wrong but be sure to get the voltage
> discharged before attempting that job.
> sometimes it takes a while for the bleeder resistors to discharge the caps
> in the supply.  73 to all Ed  K7UC
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Gerry Leary" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 5:35 AM
> Subject: Re: Kevin's amplifier tuning cheat sheet
>
>
>> Hey Tom, I say don't ever become afraid of Mechanical things.  The worst
>> you
>> can do is break them and all sighted people do that to.
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "tom behler" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 6:25 AM
>> Subject: Re: Kevin's amplifier tuning cheat sheet
>>
>>
>>>    Pat:
>>>
>>> Oh, I know they are relatively easy to swap in and out, which is why I
>>> say
>>> that once I get the hang of the procedure, I'm sure I'll be fine.
>>>
>>> And, I think that would go for most other folks on the list too.
>>>
>>> What you say here is important, so others like me are encouraged, and
>>> don't
>>> get intimmodated about trying.
>>>
>>> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Pat Byrne" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2010 10:16 PM
>>> Subject: Re: Kevin's amplifier tuning cheat sheet
>>>
>>>
>>> In the old days!! when we had tubes to change it was never a
>>> problem.  Occasionally tubes had to be neutralized - that was
>>> something that as a blind man I couldn't do.  It involved watching
>>> grid current and making adjustments to stop that current from
>>> showing.  Only a problem with triodes and no longer an applicable
>>> concern.
>>> Not to demean anyone's knowledge or abilities but the tubes will only
>>> go in the "right" way and the plate cap just presses on to the top of 
>>> the
>>> tube.
>>> Hope this helps.
>>> Pat, K9JAu
>>>
>