Repairs: That moment when you realize...

Al Evans · From: Austin, Texas, USA

That the only way your E9th second string is going to get to C# is if you put a four hole bell crank on it. You would really rather not, because the bell crank in question is on cross shaft that has five things attached, none of which will be easy to remove or to get back into position -- why is everything so relentlessly circular?? -- and is crossed by twenty other pull rods, all of which will do their level best to get in the way.

Finally, though, you tear into it. You remove the side panel over the cross shafts, then think it might be a good plan to get your parts ready to install, in case it ends up being a quick job (HA!). You look through the parts bin, and guess what's not there?

If you guessed "a four-hole bell crank", you were correct. A quick survey of the situation showed that there were two four-hole bell cranks on the LKL lever, for reasons unknown because they only had to raise the Es a half step. The pull rods to them went to the hole closest to the cross shaft, so they could easily be replaced by two-hole bell cranks. Of which I had plenty. The LKL lever only has four parts that are hard to adjust and six pull rods crossing it.

Several hours later, after exploring the enjoyment of removing, filing, and replacing one little rod locking barrel that the pull rod wouldn't fit through (and chasing its tiny set screw around beneath the cross shafts once or twice), the LKL lever has two-hole bell cranks and I am finally ready to resume the original project.

I should have put it up on the bench. I'm too old to be working on this on the floor.

[A few days later...]

I pulled the cross shaft for the RKR lever far enough to swap out the bell crank for the E9th second string, which required loosening everything else on the shaft and disconnecting all the pull rods (and several others of the twenty that cross it that interfered with the procedure). Fortunately, the C6th end of the guitar where that shaft is had not been "worked on" in its 40+ years as much as the E9th end, and was in better condition. And I had left it in better shape when I renovated and cleaned up under there last summer, since I was no longer completely new at it by the time I got to that end. Except for one locking barrel for a rod that had to be taken loose for access, conveniently located up under the vertical knee lever where I couldn't see it or grab it easily. It fell out and had to be chased down twice. And there was one pull rod that got lost in the jumble until I noticed its bell crank wasn't pulling anything. I found it hiding under another rod.

At any rate, I've got it all back together, and it is doing what I want it to. I think the RKR is a bit overloaded with four pulls. Raising the C6th A strings a half step includes dropping the E9th second and ninth strings, which makes the lever pretty stiff. It's usable, but I'll probably think about it some more.

It still doesn't play as nicely as my Mullen G2, but ah, what tone it has!

[Oh... and the handy dandy SGF work stand once again proved that it is indispensable. If you ever turn your pedal steel guitar over, you should get one!]

--Al Evans
_________________
2018 MSA Legend, 2018 ZumSteel Encore, 2015 Mullen G2, G&L S-500, G&L ASAT, G&L LB-100, Godin A4 Fretless, Kinscherff High Noon

Johnie King · From: Tennessee, USA

Wow made me tired just thinking about what you went threw especially working off the floor!

Al Evans · From: Austin, Texas, USA

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

Been There Done That.
Had 2 tuners on my 1974 MSA S10 quit tuning stable. Ordered 2 new sets of tuners. Grover changed the diameter to metric. Had to drill all 10 holes larger, So the metric sleeves would fit. Then the retainer screw heads were too large. They were hardened self tapping, Had to chuck them in a lathe and grind the heads down with a Dremel Tool. What looked like a 2 hour job, At string change time. Turned into about 10 hours of work. Remember that project like yesterday.

Al Evans · From: Austin, Texas, USA

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Al Evans · From: Austin, Texas, USA

Kevin Fix · From: Michigan, USA

"OUCH" I flip my Super Pro upside down on a small bench with a stool. My only issue I have is my vision. I have 20/100 vision so I am using magnifying glasses to do some of the small piece work.

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

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: