plastic washer in Carter changer

Jim Hankins · From: Yuba City, California, USA

Hi Forumites, anybody framiliar with plastic washers in the changer, or have one come out of the changer? This appears to have happened to my 2003 carter U12. The "ring " just came out of the top of the guitar out of the blue,and coincidentally I am having a problem with the string 8 e - eb lever returning to pitch. The washer may have come out of that area. I have trouble shot overtuning the nylon nut, any other noticable mechanical issues,lubrication, string ball stuck in changer, etc. thanks Jim

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

That is a "OH BOY, WHAT A REVOLTING DEVELOPMENT THIS IS".

Where is the missing piece of of the washer?
Would it be possible to contact the previous owner and discuss this problem with them?

Check the 2 straight edges on the piece that came out. Are they jagged like the washer broke. Are the they smooth like they were cut. I wonder if a washer came out of the changer, And someone cut this washer so it would snap in place over the shaft.

From your picture, I would loosen the strings on the guitar and take the pressure off the changer fingers. ( Start with the section where strings 7-8-9 attach on the changer. ) See if you can move the fingers with a piece of plastic or wood between the support bars and find exactly where There is a little free space, Where the washer has came from. If you find the space it came from you may be able to snap it back in place for another 5 years.

If the edges are jagged.
Turn the guitar over on a padded area and look at the bottom of the changer. Use a light, It may be hard to see if there is return springs on the bottom of the changer. If you can see the missing piece, You may be able to remove it with a set of needle nose pliers or tweezers.

It will take a lot skill and work to remove the changer if that is the only cure for the problem.

Keep us posted on what you find.

Good Luck in this project.

Jim Hankins · From: Yuba City, California, USA

Thanks Bobby quite REVOLTING ! Great idea! I will do that. The "washer " appeared out of the blue, protruding about half way, or more coming out the top of the changer. Your hunch is spot on that that chunk of it is still in the changer. It took some tugging to pull it out.

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

Hi Jim, Just checking in. I see you found the problem and got the broken piece out.
Did that cure the tuning problem?
Did any of the fingers move our of line, When the broken piece was removed?

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

I double clicked submit

Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

It may well be that a piece was snipped out of the washer in order to be able to install it as a spacer in some part of the guitar that was already assembled.

It looks like a small diameter to be a changer axle washer but I don't know what a Carter uses.

Danny Letz · From: Old Glory,Texas, USA 79540

That looks more like the kind of washer that would adjust the end play on cross shafts.

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

Danny Letz · From: Old Glory,Texas, USA 79540

I agree. Also it might be hard to tell if it came from a cross shaft because I've seen there be more than one on the end of a shaft depending on the gap to be taken up. Perhaps it did come from a cross shaft and the location in which he found it is just where it ended up after shaking around in the case? There's also at least a little possibility it might have been dropped in there during assembly. I found an acorn nut in the leg socket of one of my guitars 32 years after it was built.

Jim Hankins · From: Yuba City, California, USA

Hi all, update: Just to clarify, I did not find a missing piece/chip of the washer. I thought it was plausable that there was a piece left in the changer because that is about how far the washer was sticking out when I pulled it out. Per Bobby, and Doug, I did take a close look at the washer. It DOES look like straight cuts. There very well may be no chunk in the guitar.

Inpsection: I looked top and bottom best I could without removing springs, with strings loosened, with flashlight and magnafying glass. I whiggled and pushed on the fingers. Unfortunatlely the changer was filthy, with actual clumps of dust in places! I poked and prodded and blew out and cleaned best I could. I could not though, ID the place where the washer came from. There appears to be no missing space. Cracks are tight, etc.

E lower returning problem: Related to the washer ? Unknown. After I retuned the guitar, including the P6 str 8 lower that works in conjunction with the E lower. The rod is directly above the rod for the E - Eb . The P 6 rod, did not appear to have any slack in it, per Jon`s overtuning tutorial. I corrected that. First the problem (str 8 not returning to tune) , seemed to still be there. Then, I continued to pluck string 8, look at the tuner while engaging and disengaging the E to Eb lever, and while pushing on, or wiggling the associated pull rod I appeared to start getting better readings on the tuner, at one point. I am not sure yet, but that left me a little optimistic.

Thanks to everyone for the help, sharing your knowlege , and great tips, Jim

Doug Earnest · From: Branson, MO USA

As far as the tuning, it sounds like the changer might benefit from a good flush. You probably don't need to disassemble anything, just drizzle some naptha, lighter fluid, Goof Off or similar clean light solvent through the changer fingers a couple of times. Blow it out and give it a good oiling and new set of strings.

I got a nice guitar out of the closet recently that had not seen the light of day for ten years and it had gunked just from setting. It had never seen dirt. A good flush and some oil got it good as new.

Jim Hankins · From: Yuba City, California, USA

thanks Doug, You appear right. After cleaning and lube every thing seems to be working better. I appreciate the input, Jim

Allen Peterson · From: Katy, Texas

Jim,

When I picked up my new Carter from the shop in 2000, it had the same problem, only the washer was orange. Bud said it was a spacer used in setting up the changer. About half the washer was sticking up above the changer. Bud pulled it out of the changer with some needle-nosed pliers. It looked exactly like the one in your picture.

Allen Peterson
_________________
2008 D10 Rains Pedal Steel, 2000 D10 Carter Pedal Steel, BR-9 Lap Steel, Nashville 400, Nashville 112, '65 Fender Twin Re-issue, MB 200, Telonics Volume Pedal

Mike Vallandigham · From: Martinez, CA

In the event you want to clean the changer, it's not hard to do.

You don't even have to take the rods out of the bell cranks.

Jim Hankins · From: Yuba City, California, USA

Thanks Mike. I blew the changer out from the bottom, carefully used q tips to clean out dust on the fingers with magnafying glass. I then sprayed boeshield T-9 which nicely had one of those long straws so I could get in there and spray each finger. Im liking the way it is playing now.

I would like to hear how you (or other forumites) do it, Jim

Bill Ford · From: Graniteville SC Aiken

FWIW...If/when you decide to clean by flushing with any kind of fluid, I would remove the strings, and tape the surrounding area to keep the solvent off the finish and parts that you don't want damaged.
_________________
Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!!

Jim Hankins · From: Yuba City, California, USA

Good to know Bill, thanks, I see you are a fellow S12 player.

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

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: