Repair a decapitated tuner

[cymatics]

I recently acquired a new (to me) Gibson RD bass. Two of the clover leaf heads on the tuning machines were rattling quite badly when playing the instrument. With just the slightest touch, I was able to remove them entirely from the slot where they should have been secured. See pics here:

RD_Tuners - Imgur

Do these need to be soldered to be repaired?

[96tbird]

Nope. See those little single teeth on the clovers, they grip into indents inside the stem slot.
1, Clean clovers and slots.
2, Wrap a pair of pliers' jaws with cloth tape to protect the metal.
3. wrap a pair of vice grips' jaws with cloth tape to protect the metal.
4, gently squeeze down on clover teeth with vice grips to reshape them if they are flattened (so they protrude nicely).
5, slide clovers into slots.
6, squeeze sides of clovers with the plain pliers to pinch the teeth into indents in the slots.
7, Optional if still loose: a gentle squeeze stems closed around the clovers at the very tip of the stem with vice grips.
8, squeeze clovers on the other two so they wont rattle.
9, done.
9a, If you cant get them tight enough, wick some CA glue in the slots and let it set.
9b, If not satisfied, find where I live and break in and steal mine off my G-3.

[cymatics]

Awesome! Thanks so much. I'll try it tonight.

[cymatics]

A little persuading with the vice grips and it was good to go. I didn't even need to break out the Loctite.

So you can stop locking your doors at night...

your G3 is safe...

for now.

[96tbird]

Glad to hear it!