Construction and Restoration Blog : Dunnett Geo Way 830 Throw Off Modifications
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The Dunnett Geo Way 830 throw off is a nod to the classic Camco and Geo Way throw offs from the 1950's and 1960's. However, there are a couple challenges that make it hard to justify the rumors of it being able to replace a vintage Camco or Geo Way throw off, both of which are rare pieces and very expensive when they can be found. Over the past 6 months, our shop has been asked multiple times for convenient, functional replacement options for Camco and Geo Way throw offs. If the 830 is to be a suitable replacement, either the mounting hole spacing needs to be re-designed to be compatible, or there needs to be a mounting adapter to make the 830 adjustable. Second, it is very noisy when the lever is operated, to the point of being cumbersome in a live or studio setting where turning the snares on and off is necessary. After many hours of trial and error, we have come up with two simple, elegant solutions for both of these problems.
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Dunnett Geo Way 830 Throw Off
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Addressing Noisy Operation:
First, let us examine the issue of the noise. Upon disassembly, you will notice there is a small post with a bearing that is used in conjunction with the notched cam/lever to engage the snares. This small post hits the side of the channel in which it sits when it skips over those notches. To fix this, a few simple wraps of Teflon tape around that post will not only quiet the mechanism, it will also aide in lubricating the moving parts for smoother operation. This is an easy fix most drummers can perform in their garage with less than $1 in materials and 5 minutes of time. It is completely reversible, will not harm the hardware or your drum, doesn't collect dirt, and requires no special skills to fix. The manufacturer should include a nylon bushing around this post to solve this issue. See photos, below.
First, let us examine the issue of the noise. Upon disassembly, you will notice there is a small post with a bearing that is used in conjunction with the notched cam/lever to engage the snares. This small post hits the side of the channel in which it sits when it skips over those notches. To fix this, a few simple wraps of Teflon tape around that post will not only quiet the mechanism, it will also aide in lubricating the moving parts for smoother operation. This is an easy fix most drummers can perform in their garage with less than $1 in materials and 5 minutes of time. It is completely reversible, will not harm the hardware or your drum, doesn't collect dirt, and requires no special skills to fix. The manufacturer should include a nylon bushing around this post to solve this issue. See photos, below.
Back of throw off body, mounting plate removed
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Post with Teflon tape
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Addressing Mounting Hole Spacing:
Next, the issue of mounting holes not lining up. This is a larger problem that should have been addressed in production if the 830 was indeed marketed towards Camco and Geo Way enthusiasts as a suitable replacement for vintage parts. We always recommend avoiding drilling vintage drums whenever possible, as any permanent modifications like that immediate devalue the vintage instrument irreversibly.
To solve this issue, we turned two small, offset threaded studs from hardened steel. The offset amount is 1/16", which when installed moves the mounting bolts in toward the center of the throw off body by a total of 1/8". This perfectly aligns the mounting bolts with the original holes in both Oaklawn and L.A. Camco snares. The fix requires no permanent modifications, is reversible, and doesn't alter the look of the throw off with unsightly adapter plates or shims. Note that strength is slightly reduced with this modification of a bolt, however it still far exceeds that of a piece of snare chord or the elasticity of the snare wires themselves by an exponential amount, so we can do this without risking breakage of the mounting bolts when installed. When completely threaded into the throw off body, the throw off sits flush with the shell and the modification is invisible from both the inside and outside of the shell. the See photos, below.
Next, the issue of mounting holes not lining up. This is a larger problem that should have been addressed in production if the 830 was indeed marketed towards Camco and Geo Way enthusiasts as a suitable replacement for vintage parts. We always recommend avoiding drilling vintage drums whenever possible, as any permanent modifications like that immediate devalue the vintage instrument irreversibly.
To solve this issue, we turned two small, offset threaded studs from hardened steel. The offset amount is 1/16", which when installed moves the mounting bolts in toward the center of the throw off body by a total of 1/8". This perfectly aligns the mounting bolts with the original holes in both Oaklawn and L.A. Camco snares. The fix requires no permanent modifications, is reversible, and doesn't alter the look of the throw off with unsightly adapter plates or shims. Note that strength is slightly reduced with this modification of a bolt, however it still far exceeds that of a piece of snare chord or the elasticity of the snare wires themselves by an exponential amount, so we can do this without risking breakage of the mounting bolts when installed. When completely threaded into the throw off body, the throw off sits flush with the shell and the modification is invisible from both the inside and outside of the shell. the See photos, below.
Offset mounting studs, machined.
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Offset mounting studs partially threaded into mounting plate.
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Both of these issues would be simple to address for the manufacturer, and should have been considered during the initial production stages. With small modifications in manufacturing, the 830 could be much more useful for vintage enthusiasts and players. However a skilled drum shop like Mattoon Drums and Percussion can address these aftermarket. Notice that these modifications do not change the original design of the throw off, and as such all manufacturer warranties remain intact. Most importantly, these solutions ensure any modification like a new Dunnett Geo Way 830 throw off will retrofit to your Camco or Geo Way snare to extend the playable life of the snare and without devaluing the instrument.