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Topic: Carter lower-return spring replacements? |
Dan Robinson
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 20 May 2020 9:14 am |
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| Anyone know what I can use to replace the lower return springs on my Carter steel? |
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Gene Tani
From:
Pac NW
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Posted 20 May 2020 12:32 pm
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I ordered a few from Al Brisco but naive question:
can't you just slightly shorten the ones you have
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- keyless Sonny Jenkins laps stay in tune forever!; Carter PSG
- The secret sauce: polyester sweatpants to buff your picks, cheapo Presonus channel strip for preamp/EQ/compress/limiter, Diet Mountain Dew |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 20 May 2020 1:05 pm
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| Gene Tani wrote: |
I ordered a few from Al Brisco but naive question:
can't you just slightly shorten the ones you have |
Shortening them will increase the amount of resistance. I shortened the spring on my half stop by one loop, and the increase in resistance was quite noticable. Great for a half stop, but I'm not sure I would like that increase on all pedals/levers.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 20 May 2020 2:36 pm
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| I agree with Richard. |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 20 May 2020 2:49 pm
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Hi Dan, if you want to upgrade to adjustable return springs, you can buy 10 string sets from Michael Yahl here...
https://www.psgparts.com/Anchor-Spring-Adjustable-MSA-200-205.htm?categoryId=-1
I installed these on my MCI Welded frame Rangexpander and they do the perfect job ... fitted the existing screw holes so no extra drilling required. And should fit a Carter too without any hassles.
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14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases. |
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Dan Robinson
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 20 May 2020 7:19 pm
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Richard, your recommendation with the feel-stop spring worked great for me too.
I've disassembled this guitar for cleaning and to reconfigure 3 knee levers. Polishing most of the parts has worked fine, but the springs aren't cooperating. Not sure why I care how they look. No one else will.
Al Brisco has replacements, but they're not inexpensive. I've checked some spring makers, but have no idea of tension specs.
Paddy, the adjustable spring assembly is tempting. Thanks for the suggestion. |
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Gene Tani
From:
Pac NW
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 21 May 2020 5:29 am
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Comments on Michael's site say they fit a Carter just fine. Check availability though. Looks like they are not.
That seems like a fair price. I once bought a set from Sierra for a 14 stringer and I think they were about $100.
I know some guys have the tooling to make their own inserts, but there's more to it. Finding quality springs with the proper tension and feel, fitting the bushings, obtaining the proper screws etc. Better off buying them if you can find them. |
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John Palumbo
From:
Lansdale, PA.
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Gene Tani
From:
Pac NW
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Posted 22 May 2020 8:09 am
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I just emailed Michael Yahl about that adjustable spring harness
_________________
- keyless Sonny Jenkins laps stay in tune forever!; Carter PSG
- The secret sauce: polyester sweatpants to buff your picks, cheapo Presonus channel strip for preamp/EQ/compress/limiter, Diet Mountain Dew
Last edited by Gene Tani on 23 May 2020 5:08 am; edited 7 times in total |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 22 May 2020 8:17 am
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Go adjustable... SOO much easier to dial in, and balance individual strings,,, Well worth the small price in cash and time.... bob
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I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Dan Robinson
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 23 May 2020 8:58 am
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Lots of food for thought. I started this thread hoping to find a cheap generice replacement so I could avoid polishing the old sprints. Looks like that isn't going to happen.
These springs are as shiny as they're going to get. It's time to move on with the rest of this rebuild. They might not look like I hoped, but they should work.
If I do need to replace a few I'll get them from Al Brisco. With the current exchange rate it's a great time to order Carter parts. That $40/Canadian minimum order is just $29/US. After breaking a knee lever reverser I got its replacement from Al Brisco, plus a second one as a spare. Having one more on hand would be good insurance.
Gene, let me know if Michael will have the adjustable spring assembly. |
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Gene Tani
From:
Pac NW
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Posted 23 May 2020 1:05 pm
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Did you break the lever reverser playing or during the rebuild? Did you check fo r galling before it broke?
Also be careful with the set screws on the dogbones that set the travel on the levers (they're like Bill Liscomb's dogbones but the set screws are really long)
_________________
- keyless Sonny Jenkins laps stay in tune forever!; Carter PSG
- The secret sauce: polyester sweatpants to buff your picks, cheapo Presonus channel strip for preamp/EQ/compress/limiter, Diet Mountain Dew |
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Dan Robinson
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 23 May 2020 2:31 pm
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The reverser broke during a band practice.
It's easy to see why it is prone to breaking. Too bad the 90° cuts at the base of the finger are not radiused.
My attempt to repair it was unsuccessful.
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Gene Tani
From:
Pac NW
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Posted 29 May 2020 6:56 am
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A triangular reinforcer seems to allow less wiggle: https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=299271
As far as springs, I went to my local Tacoma Screw, they said they don't have a durometer, they just pull on springs by hand to approximate the right tension, not exactly precision enough for this job. So ask your fastener store about that.'
Q: did the changer go back together fairly easily?
_________________
- keyless Sonny Jenkins laps stay in tune forever!; Carter PSG
- The secret sauce: polyester sweatpants to buff your picks, cheapo Presonus channel strip for preamp/EQ/compress/limiter, Diet Mountain Dew |
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Dan Robinson
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 29 May 2020 12:30 pm
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| Gene Tani wrote: |
| Q: did the changer go back together fairly easily? |
That is "the 64,000 dollar question."
Finished cleaning and polishing cross shafts, knee levers, and pull rods. All undercarriage parts are now cleaned up.
I'm going to polish the endplates, and clean/lube the keyhead rollers before reassembling the changer. Then the real fun begins  |
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