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Kef Reference Tweeters-Ferrofluid Replacement


It took me three months to build up the courage to replace the Ferrofluid oil in my Kef tweeters.
There were several good videos on the internet how to go through the process, one in particular out of Texas. 
There were no videos or instructions which directly related to my specific speakers; Reference 3~2.
They are ~ 20 years old and I noticed that the highs were muddy and dull in the right speaker.
I run a Cardas Frequency Sweep record every 6 months or so.  The tweeter issue was noticeable during this maintenance procedure.
No replacement speakers (tweeters) are available from Kef or anywhere on the internet, so one wrong move and the speaker system would be worthless.  I felt like I was performing brain surgery.

First speaker took ~ 3 hours.  Second about 30 minutes.
I am happy to announce that the 'oil change' was successful!
The speakers are back to full factory operating specifications.
I've attached a link with some photos below.
If anyone needs to perform this procedure I can help walk you through the process.

Take care,
Lou
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qt1ZUPk8jF1QNkUu6

quincy
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,751 posts
 
OP - Did you have to clean the old fluid off the voice coil first? If so, how?
Thanks
ljgerens
152 posts
 
Lou,

Thanks for the info. Was there any adhesive holding the voice coil diaphragm to the magnet. On the T33 tweeters in my KEF 104/2s they had a thick double sided tape holding them together and it was reusable.
quincy OP
327 posts
 
Dweller,
The voice coil sits in the fluid.  
Yes, I cleaned it.
Q-Tip with rubbing alcohol in a circular motion.  Very gentle!
Both inside and outside diameter was cleaned.

lljgerens,
I did not remove the voice coil entirely from the speaker body.  Enough slack is avail in the wires to lift it out an off and to one side.  See photo.
musicanter
6 posts
 
hi, Lou
thanks for the interesting and necessary topic you created!
I needs to perform procedure of Replacement Tweeters-Ferrofluid in my Kef Reference two - two (almost the same as yours 3-2)!
can you help me to walk through this the process?
now question number one and basic:
how to remove the front black plate to get to the midrange and tweeter speakers? i need to extract this speaker!
on your first photo (by link) the speakers are already without the black front plate.
Thanks!
Regards, Alex
Enter your text ...
quincy OP
327 posts
 
Hello Alex,
I will try my best to assist you in your rebuild of your Kef speakers.
The black plastic 'diffuser'  (not sure what it is called) is held on with Allen head hex screws.  Six each speaker in my case.  Borrow or purchase a inexpensive set for this process step.  It has to come off, you can't get to the speakers with it in place.  I had 6 plastic plugs that were in front of (on top of) the allen hex screws.  I saw no purpose to these 'plastic plugs' other than to confuse you about the disassembly process.  I did put them back because, well, you just never know.....  You can get the plugs out by jamming a phillips head screwdriver into them and rotating counter clockwise.  These plugs are not attached to anything, only a press fit.  I often wonder how many folks stopped at this stage because of the confusion created.  No written or visual instructions exist, that I could find anyway.  That's why the first speaker took me 3 hours of 'discovery'.
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