How do I repair a wobbly leg?

Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

The threaded slug is not loose enough to fall out of the leg but not tight enough to keep the leg from wobbling. Looking for the proper and/or easy fix.

Thanks!
Dave
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Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

If you don't mind the Ã¦sthetics of one clutch sitting higher than the others (or don't mind performing the same operation to another leg to resume symmetry), drive out the slug, cut off the swelled end, and drive the slug into the new end.
I like that more than epoxy.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Kevin Fix · From: Michigan, USA

I bought some legs off of a guy on ebay a few years ago. I think he still is there. Type in pedal steel guitar. I think $30.00 a piece.

Tim Russell · From: Pennsylvania, USA

JB Weld/Metal epoxy is good for this.

Drive the slug out, slather a good amount of JB Weld in that area, drive back together. Let it set for a few days before handling, just to be sure it is cured well.
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Sierra Crown D-10

Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

Thanks guys.

Yes, I forgot about JB Weld.....used it many times....

Smile

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Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

Is it a back leg or can you make it a back leg by changing the inter tubing to another leg??
If JB Weld will not do a good job.
I agree with Lane. If you can make it a back leg. Cut both back legs off so the clutches will be same distance and look like it was built that way.

If you go with cutting the legs for the repair, Take the leg to a hardware store and buy a nut that will fit and cover the threads. Screw the nut down tight on the shoulder to not stress the threads. If you have to use more than one nut.

Use a piece of paper as a Round about and very careful mark a perfect circle around the neck. Cut with a hack saw and file perfectly flat. Or have it cut off in a lathe. A wheel cut off will crimp the edge of the end and be hard to get the slug back in. Good Luck on the repair and Happy Steelin.

Ross Shafer · From: Petaluma, California

yo Dave, bring it over, I know a guy who knows a guy...

Jon Jaffe · From: Austin, Texas

Your talking about the male thread piece that sits in the leg. Remove it and use 5 minute epoxy, like you would attach a shaft to a golf club. It will hold in place and not wobble unless the threads are stripped.

Jim Palenscar · From: Oceanside, Calif, USA

You can usually fix these by driving out the slug and using a hammer and a punch basically stipple the non-threaded outside circumference of the slug and press it back in- no glue needed.

Dave Zirbel · From: Sebastopol, CA USA

Larry Moore · From: Hampton, Ga. USA

I have repaired several legs with this problem...
NO GLUE NEEDED.......
Knock the threaded plug out, then take small piece of paper and wrap it around the end that goes into the leg.
Then take either a plastic hammer or a block of wood and knock it back in place.
Have not had one to fail or get loose yet.

Larry

Dan Robinson · From: Colorado, USA

My Carter has a leg with off-axis plug. On assembly of the guitar, when screwing it into the end-plate, the opposite end (rubber tip) describes a circle. But the plug is tight in the leg. I was advised to "use it as a rear leg and never think about it again." Good advice (thanks, Doug E.!).

Do what Jim Palenscar suggests. I'm sure he's done it more than a few times. You could cut it down, and go through the whole mishigas, and still end up a bit off axis. It's a support member, not a rifle bore. In fact, I bet many legs exhibit this, but not enough to notice, and certainly not so much that it matters.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Dan, the neck of the threads is probably bent, so the plug is in straight, but the bolt-like bit is bent (to investigate this, get a socket wrench and about appropriate nut, spin it on with the wrench while you hold the leg stationary. $2 says the wrench describes an orbit instead of a rotation).
Trying to straighten it might break it, so I'd leave it alone (I have a vague recollection of this)
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Chris Lucker · From: Los Angeles, California USA

Try placing a pair of nuts on the threaded portion and twisting the insert in the body to the tube. I suspect that turning it a bit will recreate the original tight fit.

If you can blow out the insert, I would use hot melt ferrule cement (the stuff used to set fly rod ferrules or arrow heads) or epoxy to reseat the threaded insert. All this is easier than cutting the leg tube.
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Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.

Chris Lucker · From: Los Angeles, California USA

I have a thousand legs in the closet. I can send you a new top if the length matches, or a new socket if I can find a loose one.
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Chris Lucker
Red Bellies, Bigsbys and a lot of other guitars.

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