Bridge saddle height screw stuck

EagleMoon · #1 07-05-2008, 11:11 PM

Is there a way to fix this? I tried using a pair of pliers and turning the screw from the underside, but it kept slipping off. It's only on one side of the saddle.

I don't think it's rust.

scootron · #2 07-05-2008, 11:21 PM

I recently ran into this problem on an old Peavey. The screws (actually 'all thread' ) weren't really rusty, but had corroded a little from perspiration or whatever and had frozen up. I took the saddles off, put them in a paper cup, and sprayed them very thoroughly with a penetrating spray called "corrosion x". This stuff is great. After about 30 minutes, I was able to loosen the screws with an allen wrench and then remove them. Some of them came out better turned on through the bottom, some better backed out through the top, but they all came out eventually.

Products like WD 40 just don't do the trick. You need something powerful and dedicated to cutting through corrosion. Of course, if the corrosion is bad enough, you may have to replace the screws, but they are pretty cheap.

Hope this helps.

EagleMoon · #3 07-05-2008, 11:46 PM

Thanks for the tip. Funny thing is though, it doesn't look at all corroded,and all the other screws work just fine. Unless I've gotten a bit rough with the allen wrench and bent something inside. Would that corrosion x stuff take off the black coating on the bridge saddle though?

scootron · #4 07-06-2008, 07:01 AM

Shouldn't. I have found it to be neutral on finishes, but you might want to try it on the underside first to be sure.

If there is only one screw locked up, it may be mechanical. You may just have to force it out by grabbing it with locking pliers and screwing it out, then replacing it.

Sometimes corrosion is hard to see. It may be in the threads that are in contact with the saddle. Or it could have gotten crossthreaded some way. If worse comes to worse, you can always replace a single saddle, especially if it is a Fender product.

Zooberwerx · #5 07-06-2008, 08:14 AM

Ditto on the "thread buster" or whatever they call the stuff. Should be able to find it at an auto parts store. Its handy when removing frozen lug nuts. You might also consider slotting the exposed end (either) of the screw with a Dremel tool and using a small screwdriver.

Riis

EagleMoon · #6 07-06-2008, 09:19 AM

I appreciate all the ideas. I'll give them a try. It's on my MTD Beast bass, so it's not a bridge I can easily replace. All the other screws are working very smoothly, so hard to tell why this one is stuck.