For the benefit of anyone that finds this thread, the text of the write up follows. The PDF has some nice pictures that go with the text. Anybody that knows how to post files here, please share.
:: Salon Midrange Driver Removal and Repair ::
1) Remove all the screws holding the metal basket. If the driver moves while doing this, skip the next steps.
2) Apply some heat with a heat gun or hair dryer, being careful not to overheat the surround and cone. The metal basket just needs to be warm to the touch to help loosen.
3) Find a tool that matches as exactly as possible the diameter of the holes in the driver basket. There will be some friction that you can use to gently pry the basket from the speaker enclosure.
4) Once you have the driver loosened, take a picture of the wiring and where it is attached to each terminal so you can reattach later. Use a soldering tool to unsolder the two wires and put the driver aside.
5) If there is any old adhesive or degenerate foam residue, remove it with a scraper and make sure there is a smooth surface to reattach the driver. Use the same technique to remove any residue from the driver basket.
6) Use a “spudger” tool to gently separate the surround from the driver basket. The adhesive can also be cut away with an X-acto knife by pushing aside the surround and making small cuts in the adhesive. Be sure not to cut the surround. This is the most time consuming and delicate step.
7) Once complete, the edge of the cone should be completely free of the driver basket.
8) Using a soldering tool remove the voice coil leads from the driver terminals.
9) Use a sharp cutting tool like an X-acto knife to reach beneath the surround and cut away the driver spider. Cut along the outside edge of the spider to leave as much material attached to the driver cone as possible.
10) The cone should now be completely detached from the driver basket. Put the driver cone in a protected place.
11) There will be small metal flakes visible if you inspect the magnetic gap between the pole piece and magnet assembly.
12) Use a piece of stiff cardboard or other non-magnetic sheet and rub along the inside of the gap to pull up the residue. The particles will tend to attach themselves to the pole piece once they are coaxed far enough away from the gap. The particles will attach to a metal screwdriver and can be removed from the pole piece.
13) Continue cleaning until the entire gap looks clean. You can drop the cone temporarily into the gap to test the voice coil and detect any rubbing.
14) Reassemble the driver. Place a thin layer of contact adhesive where the surround attaches to the driver basket. I use the product “Amazing Goop”.
15) Place the cone back into the basket and rotate until the spider aligns with the cut marks and the voice coil wires are aligned with their wire terminals.
16) Use a cylinder or cone that is the same diameter as the surround to evenly press the surround into the adhesive.
17) Use a tool to apply adhesive to the edge of the spider to attach each part to the driver basket edge that was cut.
18) Solder the voice coil wires to the solder terminals. Make sure that the wires are free to move and don’t rub against the cone or the driver basket.
19) Replace the driver seal with a thin sheet of closed cell foam. Insert the screws in the driver to center the foam.
20) Complete the assembly by soldering the driver wires to the appropriate terminals. Screw the driver into the speaker enclosure.
