Tuners Sticking

[bassplayer57]

What do you guys recommend to use if your tuners seem to stick, or are hard to turn? Is there something that the normal person would have in their house to use for it?? Thanks in advance!

[Silversorcerer]

Originally Posted by bassplayer57

What do you guys recommend to use if your tuners seem to stick, or are hard to turn? Is there something that the normal person would have in their house to use for it?? Thanks in advance!

-If a normal person has some kind of machine grease. I used bicycle bearing grease. It's what I used to rebuild bicycle hubs and other bearings. Real good stuff. Once is all it takes and they work slick and don't stick or have any roughness. It's a good fix to most rough tuners.

[bassplayer57]

Do you think WD-40 would work?

[Matthew Tucker]

Yes, it should work as a short term lubricant and to clean any gunk or rust there may be in there. I use it. If the WD40 doesn't work, there may be something else wrong. Check the worms/cogs aren't bent or stripped, or the strings aren't jammed hard against the cheeks.

A light smear of bicycle grease would be a better long term lubricant.

[Silversorcerer]

Originally Posted by bassplayer57

Do you think WD-40 would work?

No. WD-40 is more of a solvent than a lubricant. It is far too light weight for the job. Vaseline would be better, but a good grade of actual machine grease would be the best. You don't need to put much. I had one kind of rough tuner when my bass was new. So I just took them all apart and greased all the bearing surfaces and gear teeth. It smoothed them out real nice. Wipe the excess off with a cloth or paper towel so it doesn't get on the rest of the bass. If you use good grease, it will last a long, long time;- and so will the tuners. The bicycle bearing grease is cheap and you can get it at a bicycle shop. Here's a good little tube: http://www.amazon.com/Bull-Shot-Adhe.../dp/B000C14HEM

[bassplayer57]

I probably need to get that! These are 100 year old tuners that we are talking about! They are very difficult to turn. I will get some Bicycle grease, and check the worms/cogs and that the strings aren't jammed against the pegbox.
Thank you for your help!

Nick

[toman]

I use silicone lube; that way it won't attract dust and dirt to later gum up the works.

[CPike]

Every year or so I completely disassemble my machines and just wipe them clean with a dry cloth. Then I use a little dab of this graphite paste called "guitar grease" on the appropriate contacting metal parts.

Chris

[bassplayer57]

Originally Posted by toman

I use silicone lube; that way it won't attract dust and dirt to later gum up the works.

I have some of this at my house.

Originally Posted by CPike

Every year or so I completely disassemble my machines and just wipe them clean with a dry cloth. Then I use a little dab of this graphite paste called "guitar grease" on the appropriate contacting metal parts.

Chris

I also have some Graphite paste. I bet that I should disassemble the tuners next time I change strings, because they probably haven't been disassembled since they were first assembled!!

Matthew,

The strings were sort of jammed against the pegbox, but not alot. I moved the string away from the edge, and it seemed a little easier, but that A tuner has issues!!

[alanbarnosky]

bassplayer!

Be careful!! I had the same problem. It might not be the gears itself. If it is, then go ahead and use the grease, oil, etc on the metal. But sometimes the peg is too big for the hole it fits in.. do not use any lube on any of the wood! It will swell the wood and do some pretty dirty damage. If it is the peg, then the hole probably needs to get reamed.

Good luck! I'm just trying to scare you, thats all

[Bob Branstetter]

Originally Posted by bassplayer57

I also have some Graphite paste. I bet that I should disassemble the tuners next time I change strings, because they probably haven't been disassembled since they were first assembled!!

My advice would be to take the tuners off the bass and find out where the problem is before you put any grease or other lubricant on them. I try to use as little lubricant as possible since it will tend to attract dust and dirt, plus the possibility of it coming off on something that you don't want it on.

[bassteban]

Originally Posted by Bob Branstetter

...it will tend to attract dust and dirt, plus the possibility of it coming off on something that you don't want it on.

I wonder if bicycle chain wax(a 'dry' lube)might not work very well here, & not attract dust. My E & A tuners are a bit sticky; maybe I'll try this. Of course, I agree that you should positively diagnose the problem before taking any action.

[CamMcIntyre]

I used vaseline on the tuners on my Cleveland. I think it was last year, one of them felt really hard to turn-my teacher suggested it and it worked quickly and easily. Haven't had any issues since then.

[yem]

Originally Posted by Silversorcerer

No. WD-40 is more of a solvent than a lubricant.

Awaken thread! Two of my tuners are rusty and sticky. Is it safe to use WD-40 to loosen/clean everything up and then apply the proper lube?

[Square Bear]

I don't suppose astroglide would do the job...

[yem]

Originally Posted by Square Bear

I don't suppose astroglide would do the job...

Ha! Potentially....

But what about the initial clean up/de-rusting?

[CPike]

Originally Posted by yem

Awaken thread! Two of my tuners are rusty and sticky. Is it safe to use WD-40 to loosen/clean everything up and then apply the proper lube?

Not sure how I would deal with rust issue, but I use WD-40 to clean my machines before I lube them with graphite paste. I always take the machines completely off the bass, to eliminate the possibility of damaging the varnish with the WD-40 solvent. Wipe all the parts clean and allow them to dry thoroughly before sparingly applying lubrication. I use the paste under the gear where it meets the pegbox and have never seen the varnish affected in any way. I also put a dab of paste on the pegs so they move smoothly inside the peg holes.

Chris

[CPike]

Originally Posted by yem

But what about the initial clean up/de-rusting?

Rust would indicate the plating has worn off and the underlying metal is exposed - I s'pose you could use a stiff wire brush to remove the rust but that won't prevent it from returning.
Chris

[yem]

Here's what I'm working with:


Is "very fine" steel wool too abrasive? I've read conflicting opinions. There is some detailing on the plate and I'd like to avoid damage.

[yem]

Also, there's something that looks like paint in the gears and other grooves. Any recommendations for removing this stuff?