America's Pedal - FX technical info

This webpage will serve as a index for DOD-specific parts sources and sizes and a guide to basic repairs (and possibly modification info). An index of all available official DOD schematics and component-side circuitboard pictures will be online in early 2011; please check back for additional updates.

Parts sizes and sources:

• Switches: DOD used two different switches for the FX-series of pedals. Original and second-series pedals (and all DigiTech PDS-series twin pedals) used a larger switch (P/N 44-0032 from the DOD outlet store) that was mounted away from the main circuitboard, while final-series pedals used a smaller switch (P/N 44-0083) that was directly mounted to the main circuitboard. An illustrated guide to replacing a switch is here.
  
  
• Input/output jacks: DOD used two different 1/4" jacks for their pedals, one with a black casing (all first- and second-series pedals, many final-series pedals) and one with a light blue casing (some final-series pedals, and the DOD outlet store). The main difference between the two is that the black casing is slightly smaller and uses metric fasteners. Note that the part available from the DOD outlet store (P/N 32-0086) shows a picture with a black casing, but they will send you ones with a blue casing, and no mounting hardware is included. In addition, from previous repair attempts, the newer jacks with blue casings may not fit inside original-series pedals.
  
  
• Nuts and wrench/socket sizes: Original-series DOD FX-series pedals initially used large-casing plastic-shaft CTS pots ("137" prefix stamped on the pot casing, 1982-83; 1/2" nuts) or early Alpha pots (1983; 7/16" nuts). Except for the occasional final-series pedal with blue-casing 1/4" jacks and 1/2" nuts, all subsequent DOD pedals used metric nuts for their pots, 3.5mm power supply jacks (first- and second-series only), and input/output jacks. We have had a difficult time finding equivalent replacement parts, even from places like McMaster-Carr.
  
  
• Screws: DOD used size 6/32 screws for the bottom plate of all of their pedals; note that original screws were slightly tapered at the end. Among FX-series pedals, both black anodized and plain screws were used, but we have not yet determined a timeline for when the color changed (although all final-series pedals should have black screws).
  
  

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