Hipshot Ultra Lite tuners loose. Can i tighten them?

[dave_bass5]

I recently brought a Lakland Skyline JO neck to go on my Squier.
It works well and stays in tune but last night when i was changing the strings i noticed there is a lot of wobble in the tuners. Not the bit that the string goes on but the part you turn. They also turn very freely until the strings are tight.
I had a look at the opposite end and there seems to be a Allen nut type of thing. I have a tool that fits it but all seemed to be rock solid.
Is there something else i can do to tighten these up, or should i just not worry about it. I dont have a lot of tools and dont want to spend any money on it as all strings do stay in tune.

Thanks for any advice.

[Gorgula]

You can tighten the small hex screw at the bottom of the tuner as well as the large phillips screw that holds the gear on. However, in my experience it is almost always the small hex screw that needs tightening.

If the small hex screw doesn't want to move, it is most likely because there is Loctite in there which Hipshot uses to keep the screws from moving. But if the tuner feels loose you gotta tighten it. It shouldn't take all that much force to get it to move though.

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by Gorgula

You can tighten the small hex screw at the bottom of the tuner as well as the large phillips screw that holds the gear on. However, in my experience it is almost always the small hex screw that needs tightening.

If the small hex screw doesn't want to move, it is most likely because there is Loctite in there which Hipshot uses to keep the screws from moving. But if the tuner feels loose you gotta tighten it. It shouldn't take all that much force to get it to move though.

This is true. If the cap screw is resistant to tightening, it's sometimes better to loosen & remove, chip off the excess dried Loctite, and apply new blue Loctite before re-installing. Be sure you're using the correct size hex key as it is easy to round-out the hex recess...I've done it before on really stubborn components.

Riis

[dave_bass5]

Thanks guys. It definitely the hex screw as far as i can tell.
Loosing it first makes sense if they have been sealed like that. Im wondering how they would become loose, without the nut becoming loose though.

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by dave_bass5

Thanks guys. It definitely the hex screw as far as i can tell.
Loosing it first makes sense if they have been sealed like that. Im wondering how they would become loose, without the nut becoming loose though.

I've gotten 'em brand-new whereas they required a bit of snugging to bring them up to my spec. I like the action to have virtually no play whatsoever but without binding.

Riis

[dave_bass5]

Originally Posted by Zooberwerx

I've gotten 'em brand-new whereas they required a bit of snugging to bring them up to my spec. I like the action to have virtually no play whatsoever but without binding.

Riis

Same here. Thanks again.

I may leave them as they are until the next string change.

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by dave_bass5

Same here. Thanks again.

I may leave them as they are until the next string change.

You can attempt to tighten them with strings installed and up-to-pitch provided you have clear / direct access to the cap screws (not always available on cramped or otherwise awkwardly arranged headstocks). Just hold the Y or cloverleaf in one hand for stability. As mentioned earlier, if resistant, don't force the issue.

Riis

[dave_bass5]

Originally Posted by Zooberwerx

You can attempt to tighten them with strings installed and up-to-pitch provided you have clear / direct access to the cap screws (not always available on cramped or otherwise awkwardly arranged headstocks). Just hold the Y or cloverleaf in one hand for stability. As mentioned earlier, if resistant, don't force the issue.

Riis

Thanks for the tip. While i can do this with the strings on the reason im going to leave it until the next string change is that with the strings at the correct pitch there is no issue so i wont be able to tell if its worked.
I plan on changing the strings in a few weeks (just trying out some TI's) so ill do it then.