hex key & truss rod

Sabu · #1 09-22-2007, 08:43 PM

when adjusting a truss rod, should the hex key be 100% snug in the the truss rod socket or is a tiny bit of looseness to be expected? I adjusted my basses' truss rods about 6 months ago when the weather got warmer and soon I might have to do it again. I remember there being a bit of looseness (i.e. the hex key wobbled approximately 10 degrees when in the socket) and I tried both metric and English hex keys, using the ones that fit best. None of my basses came with a key. I ask this because I'm a little concerned about stripping out a truss rod socket, which I imagine would be a pain to fix

Any info is appreciated!

ducatiman · #2 09-23-2007, 11:52 AM

REAL snug, no slop. 10 degrees is TOO MUCH slop, IMHO.

FWIW, YMMV, all the usual apply.

-------------duc

manicbassman · #3 09-23-2007, 01:27 PM

slop is bad... slop leads to stripped sockets which is really bad

pkr2 · #4 09-23-2007, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabu

when adjusting a truss rod, should the hex key be 100% snug in the the truss rod socket or is a tiny bit of looseness to be expected? I adjusted my basses' truss rods about 6 months ago when the weather got warmer and soon I might have to do it again. I remember there being a bit of looseness (i.e. the hex key wobbled approximately 10 degrees when in the socket) and I tried both metric and English hex keys, using the ones that fit best. None of my basses came with a key. I ask this because I'm a little concerned about stripping out a truss rod socket, which I imagine would be a pain to fix

Any info is appreciated!

If I were you, I'd go ahead and remove the truss rod nut and replace it with a new one. Most likely, someone has wallowed the socket out by using a wrench that is too small. Even if you use the proper size now, it will only continue to wallow the socket out.

ducatiman · #5 09-23-2007, 03:46 PM

+1 pkr2, good point.

sabu, nows the time to get a proper fitting wrench, too. Lube the threads of the new nut (just a *bit* of vasoline, white grease, or a drop of 3 in 1 oil. Don't overdo it.
careful re-installation and your trussrod issues will be OVER.
FOREVER. hopefully......

whenever i hear of trussrod nut troubles, i cringe.

they can be very nasty, troubling to the heart and soul. removal of a buggered nut can take hours or even days and require repeated attempts with different methods and tools. and challenging as to being aggresive enough to do the job, but not too aggresive to create further damage. a fine line, indeed.

DON'T ask me how i know this......

sabu..change the darn nut...while you still CAN.

----------------duc

ErnieD · #6 09-24-2007, 10:54 PM

The hex key that came with my new 55-01 fits a couple of my basses but its too wide for my G&L L2500. My other hex keys from my tool box dont fit either. Where might one pick up a hex key for a G&L or just a variety of keys maybe?

Foamy · #7 09-24-2007, 11:30 PM

It's either metric or SAE. Go to Home Depot and get both sets - you can never have too many tools.

Sabu · #8 09-26-2007, 05:19 AM

Thanks to everyone for the responses; you've been very helpful!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foamy

It's either metric or SAE. Go to Home Depot and get both sets - you can never have too many tools.

This is the major reason why I asked about floppage...I have 4 sets of hex keys, both standard and metric, and between them all I'm not getting an exact fit. I'll double-check the truss rod nuts very soon and give some more details.

Foamy · #9 09-26-2007, 09:21 AM

Well, the SAEs are in 64th inch increments, and the Mets in mm (mostly). So if none of those fit, then the nut is trashed. There's not a third option, yet. Let's wait to see what WalMart and Microsoft come up with. Until then, get the nut fixed if none of the currently known hex wrenches fit.