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Machine Head Problems?

C

curly bassist

Mar 28, 2011
46
3
#1
Hi, below are pictures of my machine head, i dont have a great camera so it may be easier to describe the problem.

Basically i am having problems with the stock machine head on my Fender BG-29.
The pole (?) that the tuner is on which goes through the part attached to the headstock goes through too far on my E string tuner. (this can be seen in photo 1). This has caused the 2 washers, 1 black and 1 white, to be pushed on top of each other instead of side by side as they are on the other machine heads. (this can be seen in the second photo).

I am not sure of the cause but i have also noticed that the peg holding the E string in the bridge is sticking out and no matter how many times i try to restring the E string it will not push in all the way.

I recently changed the strings on this bass for the first time since i got it (2 years ago).

PHOTO 1
IMG-20110604-00083-Copy-Copy-Copy.jpg



Photo 2
IMG-20110604-00084.jpg


Photo3
IMG-20110604-00085.jpg


Photo 4
IMG-20110604-00086-Copy-Copy.jpg


Photo 5
IMG-20110604-00087.jpg

I recently got a set up on the instrument, i know for a fact that the peg sticking out of the bridge is due to something they have done on the set up (maybe a change in gauge of E string?).
I think that the machine head problems i am having are also connected to the set up but i cannot be sure because they may have been there before the set up and gone un-noticed.

Any help appreciated.



Thanks

Curly_Bassist
 
#2
It looks to me that there's a black spacing washer missing on your E string tuner. It goes between the key and the body of the tuner next to the white nylon washer. That may be the cause. But make sure the screw at the centre of the key is snug - don't overtighten it, but snug it up.
 
#3
Turnaround said:
It looks to me that there's a black spacing washer missing on your E string tuner. It goes between the key and the body of the tuner next to the white nylon washer. That may be the cause. But make sure the screw at the centre of the key is snug - don't overtighten it, but snug it up.
Click to expand...

The black spacing washer is there but the other white washer has been pushed on top of it.
I checked to see how tight the screw was and it was overly tight - well a lot tighter than on my other basses anyway. Making it difficult to turn the tuner, i had not noticed this before.
Im not at the same house as the bass right now but i will be tomorrow morning. If i loosen the screw will the black pole that connects the tuning key to the machine head connected to the headstock go back to the correct position itself or will i need to push it?

Thanks a lot
Curly_Bassist
 
#4
Loosen the string first - so there is no tension at all on the tuner. See if you can push the shaft back into place and tighten the key. That should do it. If not, you may have a damaged tuner.
 
#6
Remove the tuner and disassemble it. After you remove the round cover plate, the problem should be obvious. These types of tuners are very lightweight for bass applications and the drive gear strips easily. I have repaired several but usually, they are not repairable and have to be replaced.
Rocky
 

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