Genz Focus LT-112 Stripped handle bolt

[leftymike]

I've had the Genz Focus 112 for about two months now. It's a great 112 cab and I'm really digging the tone with my MB200. I've never played the cab out or even in a band setting as it has been used solely at home as a practice cab. I've picked up the cab maybe 5 times total since I bought it. Well I went and picked the cab up by the top handle today and the bolt stripped clean out. I'm not worried about trying to warranty a cab for a stripped handle bolt and with Genz's history I'm not concerned about the quality/build of the cab. My question is, however, can anyone suggest the best way to fix the handle? I've bought the same size bolt but in longer versions but it appears they may go clean through the depth of the cab wall. Should I just try a larger diameter bolt? My only other thought is opening the cab completely and using a nut to attach the bolt (not my ideal fix).

[JimmyM]

The old "toothpicks and wood glue" solution would probably work.

[nashvillebill]

Another possibility is to drill the hole in the cab slighty larger and screwing/gluing in a screw insert, which looks like this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000O5Y9FS/...SIN=B000O5Y9FS

That particular insert is a #10-32 which may be too large, I think they make #8 inserts. Note that you will then use a machine screw rather than a wood screw.

[Jaco who?]

That looks like a machine screw to me, not a wood screw. Notice how fine the threads are. I bet you've got a washer and a nut rattling around inside of it somewhere.

[nashvillebill]

Yep, Jaco_who is right, I did not look at the picture closely. That is indeed a machine screw.

[DWBass]

Yeah, I'd do the nut & washer fix.

[dDaddybass]

It doesn't look like the screw is long enough (wood dust on the bottom portion of the threaded area of the screw). Replace them with a slightly longer, larger diameter and not so fine of a thread (wood screw) as mentioned earlier.

[lowfreq33]

Well, there's either a T-nut still in place, in which case you may just need a new bolt, or a washer and nut that's loose, and you'll have to open it up. Call GB tomorrow and they'll tell you what to do.

[megafiddle]

Originally Posted by Jaco who?

That looks like a machine screw to me, not a wood screw. Notice how fine the threads are. I bet you've got a washer and a nut rattling around inside of it somewhere.

That sounds very likely. No way that screw would have held in wood by itself.

Could also have been a tee-nut on the inside.

Just find the original parts and reassemble with some thread locker, eg Loctite 242.
Use a washer if none was present. If it was a tee-nut, the tee-nut will have a flange
that functions as a washer.

Also if the nut seemed to have been sinking into the surface of the wood (inside),
then I would use a larger washer, like a fender washer.

[gene beauchamp]

T-nut available at home depot.Im sure that is what it is

[megafiddle]

Originally Posted by megafiddle

Just find the original parts and reassemble with some thread locker, eg Loctite 242.

I need to correct that. Even though the screw would not come loose again with Loctite, the whole thing
could loosen up in the wood. Then you would have to get inside the cabinet again to tighten it.

So Loctite is not a good idea.

Better idea, is a T-nut with barbs on it. The barbs set into the wood and prevent the T-nut from turning.
If the screw does loosen, which it probably will eventually, you can just retighten from the outside.

[agedhorse]

Mike - there should be a T-nut inside the cabinet. PM me and I will send you a replacement screw and T-nut.

[lowfreq33]

Originally Posted by agedhorse

Mike - there should be a T-nut inside the cabinet. PM me and I will send you a replacement screw and T-nut.

Aaaaaaand there you go.

[bobcruz]

No need for a new T-nut since the old one is inside the cab, probably stuck to the woofer's magnet. If you can get your arm into the cab through the jack plate, that may be all you have to remove to locate the T-nut and restore it in place. If the jack plate is too small, you'll have to pull the grill and woofer to make the repair. Good luck, Bob

[JimmyM]

I guess that renders my earlier reply moot.