| hot tip on stripped truss rod socket (CAUTION: tool misuse post following)
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Still can't remember how it happened, but when I recently went to readjust the truss rod on my second-hand SX 5-string J (nice bass, but that's a separate post), I discovered that the hex socket had been stripped somewhat round so no size Allen wrench would grip, and the next bigger one would not fit in. I googled the problem, and found an automotive BBS on which someone suggested using a slightly oversize Torx (star) wrench.
I went to Home Depot and found a set of them in a swizz-army-knife-style holder for under $10. Got them home and had to remove them from the holder to get them to the socket. Found one that seemed to fit, and tried to turn it with a pair of pliers -- and to my horror it seemed to scrape a little more metal out of the socket! So I picked the next bigger Torx wrench, and gently tapped it into the socket with a hammer. The sharp, narrow star teeth were able to advance deep into and bite into the socket in a way that the next bigger Allen wrench could not do, and I was able to turn the wrench and tighten my truss rod with the pliers. I had to pull the wrench out of the socket every 1/4 turn by poking a screwdriver through the loop end of the wrench and using the screwdriver as a lever, and using a nearby tuning peg barrel as a fulcrum. All very ugly, but successful. I believe the original socket was either 1/8 or 3 mm, and the successful Torx wrench is a #25. IF you are bold (or crazy) enough to try this, I definitely recommend buying a name brand wrench and not a cheapie, as you do not want to make the situation worse by having low-grade wrench material collapse and further round out the socket.
I would not have tried this stunt on my Conklin Groove Tools basses, but I had only paid $125 for this bass with a really nice gig bag, so I figured it would not be a huge loss, and the action *was* unplayably high, so the bass would have been a goner either way.
Try at your own risk. But if you're desperate...
__________________
"Bought an SX for the he** of it" Club #273
Wishbass club #1235
Bassists Who Drive Manual Club #85 Quote:
Originally Posted by Rip Topaz  Dude this is the Wishbass Club. No reason needed!!! | | 
