Emmons P/P axle diameter?

J Fletcher · From: London,Ont,Canada

I want to put a new axle in my push pull changer,the old one has grooves worn into it. So I ordered a new axle from Emmons a couple of years ago,and decided to install it today. Doesn't fit! Too big to go into the pillows and won't pass through one or two of the fingers. Guess they used different size axles over the years. My Emmons is an '84 or so. I did specify the year and model when I ordered.
Don't really have a gripe with Emmons, it is a pretty old guitar,just want to get it sorted out. Should I take the axle to a machine shop and have it resized?
Any other ideas?
Thanks...Jerry

Paul Norman · From: Washington, North Carolina, USA

I have an old Emmons push-pull and I thought it had
grooves in the fingers, but I found out it has
20 sections of fingers. It looks like grooves right
in the middle of each one but not where the string
comes across.
This may not be your case, but look at it close.

J Fletcher · From: London,Ont,Canada

Thanks Paul, but it is the axle that is worn. At this point the changer is in many pieces,raise fingers, lower fingers, washers, axle,"pillows", etc.
I've had it all apart once before. Trying to improve the action a bit, and smooth some pulls out...Jerry

Paul Norman · From: Washington, North Carolina, USA

If you cannot come up with it from a machine shop up
there call Ron Lashley, Jr.
I have been very fortunate gettin parts from them.
336-227-2782

Mike Cass · Posted 15 Mar 2009 6:04 am

the first few Emmons guitars produced between '63 & mid '64 featured 3/8" steel changer axles. It seems that in mid-late '64 the company went to a 1/2' steel axle, followed in '65 by the now standard 9/16" steel axle(drill rod, to be precise).
Your guitar should have been outfitted with the 9/16" axle according to its year of manufacture.
Did your changer come apart easily or did you have to
"persuade" the axle from the pillow mounts? Either way, if the O.D. of the new axle is the same as the I.D. of your pillow mount holes, then its a press-fit issue. As for some fingers or spacers not going onto the new axle, I'd look for some sort of burr or scratch in either part. Also, I lube a new changer assembly as I assemble it as it helps the parts slide into position much easier than over a dry axle. If you've already been through all of that and still arent able to assemble it then you may have the wrong axle, but I believe that @ Emmons an axle is an axle and all are pretty much interchangeable from '65 on, barring a few LeGrande's Ive seen w/ 1/2" axles, but those are a rarity. Best of luck.
MC

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

Jerry, I might line you up with a guy who has a lathe and does exact work, if you need it in the future. Looks like Mike got your present problem solved ...

J Fletcher · From: London,Ont,Canada

Thanks for the replies folks. The replacement axle came from Emmons, genuine Emmons replacement part. I would really have to persuade it to go into the pillows, I'm afraid to force it. The old axle easily slides into the pillows and through the fingers. Don't have any calipers to measure it, but the new one has got to be a bit larger than the old. It's a 1984 model push pull...Jerry

Jim Park · From: Carson City, Nv

When Jim Palenscar redid my 75 PP, I believe he ran into the same problem with the axle being a few 10ths (ten thousanths)too big....... he polished it down on his lathe to make it fit. You might try a local machine shop to see if they can get your parts to fit together correctly.

J Fletcher · From: London,Ont,Canada

Thanks Jim, I think that's what I'll do. I dropped by to see Bent and his operation today, and we measured the two axles, old and new. The new one is slightly larger by a thousandth or two. I'm going to have it reduced a bit...Jerry

Forum Index > Pedal Steel		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: