• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

How to assemble bass tuners?

Sorry for the noob-ish question I guess... silly me for assuming the ebay seller would ship them assembled. How is this done? Here's a picture of all the parts for one tuner... and what are those little black things? It seems like they have some sort of lube on them? Thanks.

Link Removed
 
take it easy man, you just posted, a lot of people are at work and such

the flat pieces go the worm gear (the threaded part of the clover key,then the string post goes into the middle, the gear and the screw go into the string post at the back of the plate, easier to do than to explain, but I thought this is pretty simple to figure out :)

TZ_BassMechanik_BM.jpg
 
Hi.

i got all the tuners on, without the little black slips, and the key is no longer coming out of the holder anymore, it appears to work. time to install a nut, and I'll string it tommorow and see how it works.

The "little black slips" are the spring and the shim to keep the worm (the shaft with the butterfly on it) in place. They also take the backlash from the gear assembly. The third purpose is to provide a bearing surface between the plate and the wheel (the big gear). They aren't supposed to be flat, but to have a slight kink in them, and are installed so the lip pushes the worm-shaft into the grooves.

The way the wheel is installed vary, but most of the time You can see the friction marks on one side, that goes towards the plate.

The CL of the wheel should be in the CL of the worm, as in any good gear. If the wheel is cut off-the-center, it allows You to take off the backlash in the gear by flipping the wheel around when the assembly gets worn over time.

Regards
Sam
 
I have a question, in the "little black things" there is a cream colored plastic thing that clicks into a hole on it. Without the plastic in there I can assemble the tuner, but when the plastic is in there I cant get the black piece in between the key and the plate. Does the plastic filler thing have to be in there, if its not in there, will they not stay in tune as well?

dan-in a time of need