What is this? (metal thing in output jack cavity)

[zebra]

What is this thing, and what do I do with it?

They way it's in there right now, it would get in the way of the output jack.

Should I just try to rip it out?

 

[Cagey]

It's the retainer from one of the original Tele cup jack mounts. It's a piece of steel slightly larger than the hole so when it gets pushed in, it bends and puts pressure on the walls of the hole to keep itself in place. Then, the jack/cup mounts to it and theoretically keeps the whole assembly in place. Didn't work very well and required a special tool to work with, so they're often replaced with... just about anything else. In this case, it looks like a square jack plate was installed in place of the original cup assembly.

Easiest/safest way to remove it is usually to push it the rest of the way through. Trying to pull it out could easily damage the body with wood tear-out.

 

[bagman67]

If you have a Dremel, you could also cut through the two thinnest parts of the retainer and take it out piecewise.  I would mask around the work area first.

 

[Rick]

I've just left them in, it's like an appendix, unless it's gone bad, just leave it.

 

[bagman67]

I've just left them in, it's like an appendix, unless it's gone bad, just leave it.

Pretty sound reasoning.  If it's not actively fouling something else, might as well leave it be.

 

[zebra]

Thanks for your input, folks!

Yeah, it had to come out - it was in the way of the output jack.
Tapped it with a screwdriver and a rubber mallet, and it popped right out.

Time to wire this thing up!

 

[LoxFL]

Thanks for your input, folks!

Yeah, it had to come out - it was in the way of the output jack.
Tapped it with a screwdriver and a rubber mallet, and it popped right out.

Time to wire this thing up!

I may have missed something but why did it have to come out and how was it in the way of the output jack..........its part of the output jack connection with the Tele Cup

 

[zebra]

Thanks for your input, folks!

Yeah, it had to come out - it was in the way of the output jack.
Tapped it with a screwdriver and a rubber mallet, and it popped right out.

Time to wire this thing up!

I may have missed something but why did it have to come out and how was it in the way of the output jack..........its part of the output jack connection with the Tele Cup

I bought the body off of eBay, and it was stripped of all hardware, so I had no idea what it was.  It makes sense that it would have been part of the original tele cup assembly, although I've used electro sockets before and never saw a piece like that.  I was installing a regular square jack plate, and it was in the way of the jack.