Washers On A Trussrod

Scalestein · #1 05-09-2007, 12:42 PM

I posted a while back about my neck not adjusting well and received some advice to put washers on the truss rod. Well, I went to the Home Depot and got some washers, but when I got home I found they were too large to fit in the truss rod hole. I figure I can file them down so they fit, and I sure hope they fit the rod. Then I thought, how in the world do you get the washers on the truss rod, being that the truss rod is about an inch below the hole. Do you just drop the washers in and hope they slide on correctly or what? If anyone knows of a special washer that works well for this it would be useful as well. I bought #6 steel washers.

62bass · #2 05-09-2007, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scalestein

I posted a while back about my neck not adjusting well and received some advice to put washers on the truss rod. Well, I went to the Home Depot and got some washers, but when I got home I found they were too large to fit in the truss rod hole. I figure I can file them down so they fit, and I sure hope they fit the rod. Then I thought, how in the world do you get the washers on the truss rod, being that the truss rod is about an inch below the hole. Do you just drop the washers in and hope they slide on correctly or what? If anyone knows of a special washer that works well for this it would be useful as well. I bought #6 steel washers.

I have successfully filed down too large washers and it worked but it took a long time. It helps to bring the truss rod nut with you to the hardware store to check the size of the washer needed. Make sure those washers are small enough to not get jammed sideways in the hole. I used tweezers on a couple basses to get them placed correctly. Sometimes it can be a bit of work.

Deathblade Eric · #3 05-09-2007, 05:31 PM

Might sound a bit daft...

Smear the washers with either a paste wax polish or Vaseline & stick 'em together - If there's enough surface area on the end of the truss rod nut they *should* stick to this as well.

Pritt might work as well.

Pete.

flewis · #4 05-09-2007, 06:12 PM

What kind of Bass do you have? I have done the washer trick on 2 of my Jazz basses. I special ordered two different size washers from "McMaster Carr". I measured the ID (inter diameter) and the OD (outer diameter) of a existing washers on each Bass with a pair of Calibers and found stainless steel washers I could use from McMaster Carr. It did take a while to search the site and find some that would work.

I have plenty of each. It you like, you could PM with your address me and I have no problem sending a few of each size I have.

PilbaraBass · #5 05-09-2007, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scalestein

I posted a while back about my neck not adjusting well and received some advice to put washers on the truss rod. Well, I went to the Home Depot and got some washers, but when I got home I found they were too large to fit in the truss rod hole. I figure I can file them down so they fit, and I sure hope they fit the rod. Then I thought, how in the world do you get the washers on the truss rod, being that the truss rod is about an inch below the hole. Do you just drop the washers in and hope they slide on correctly or what? If anyone knows of a special washer that works well for this it would be useful as well. I bought #6 steel washers.

1...filing the washers to size will work..

2..to fit the washers...get a small dowel rod ( a bamboo skewer from the kitchen will work...)
hold the rod against the end of the truss rod, with the bass in a firm vertical position (like sitting on a stand)...
slide the washer over the rod...it will then continue to slide over the thread end of the trussrod...

GlennW · #6 05-09-2007, 09:11 PM

After trying to ream a few 4mm washers and making them wavey (wavy?) I reamed out a 1/4-20 nut and rounded the perimeter with a file. The thicker metal was much easier to work with.

Scalestein · #7 05-10-2007, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

1...filing the washers to size will work..

2..to fit the washers...get a small dowel rod ( a bamboo skewer from the kitchen will work...)
hold the rod against the end of the truss rod, with the bass in a firm vertical position (like sitting on a stand)...
slide the washer over the rod...it will then continue to slide over the thread end of the trussrod...

wow! Good thinking man, this is a great method.

flewis: I'm going to get the dimensions I need when I get home, and then I might shoot you a pm, thanks. It's an SX bass by the way, 62JB I believe. The nut is a a little bigger than 5mm