| Author |
Topic: Push-pulls: chronic loose screw syndrom? |
Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
|
Posted 4 Sep 2006 9:46 pm |
|
Hi all,
I've got an 1972 Emmons push-pull that seems to be plagued by the little set screws that lock the bell-cranks on the cross-shafts loosening and backing out. I first noticed this problem after playing the guitar and having the tuning drift radically......I took it to a tech and he found that some of the bell-crank set screws had come loose, and he tightened all of them up pretty good. Since then the problem has reoccured over the course of a couple of months. Now that I know about it, it's easy for me to detect and remedy by tightening the screws, but it doesn't seem right that this keeps happening. I'm wondering if this is a common problem with Emmons push-pulls, and what it is indicative of, and if there is anything that I can do other than just dealing with it when it happens. I love this guitar, but it's a quirky beast!
Thanks!
Cliff |
|
|
 |
Brendan Mitchell
From:
Melbourne Australia
|
Posted 4 Sep 2006 10:05 pm
|
|
| Sounds like the pro's know whats going on . [This message was edited by Brendan Mitchell on 08 September 2006 at 10:49 PM.] |
|
|
|
Larry Sewell
From:
Easton, Maryland
|
Posted 5 Sep 2006 5:26 pm
|
|
| Buy some Lock-Tite and add a small drop to the set screws. Can be purchased at any automotive store. |
|
|
|
Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
|
Posted 5 Sep 2006 6:12 pm
|
|
Larry, I would go to a screw store and buy a box of the allen set screws and a few new wrenches, replace the set screws or at least the ones that work loose, tighten the set screw with either the long end of the wrench for leverage or if you have to use the long part of the wrench to reach the set screw, snug it with pliers, just a little tug past what you can do bare handed. Another thing to watch do as you tighten the bellcrank you need to work it back and forth to me sure the set screw dead centers on the flat side of the cross bar.
Jerry[This message was edited by Jerry Roller on 05 September 2006 at 07:13 PM.] |
|
|
|
Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 8 Sep 2006 3:21 pm
|
|
Do exactly what Jerry Roller said, NEW set screws that have the ends that "bit-in" like they are supposed to.
No one has this problem if they do this with new screws.
My #1554-D 35 year old guitar has never had this problem nor the hundreds of these guitars I've serviced in the past years.
Wrong set screws and you'll have a problem.
NO LOCK-TIGHT please, and this problem has nothing to do with pedal travel. Just do what the factory did in the first place.
By the way, these screws DO NOT need to be extremely tight either. Try to tighten them up to much and you'll have several sets of new problems. Snug is the word, Snug will hold forever, IF--the hard allen screw digs into the cross shaft slightly.
Bobbe Seymour [This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 08 September 2006 at 04:23 PM.] [This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 08 September 2006 at 04:27 PM.] |
|
|
|
Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 8 Sep 2006 3:39 pm
|
|
By the way guys, this isn't just a P-P deal here, almost all guitars use set-screws for something, somewhere on the guitar.
A good system that has carried us along for many years.
Also , about anything mechanical uses set-screws somewhere in their make up. (including the knobs on your amp!)
Bobbe [This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 08 September 2006 at 04:41 PM.] |
|
|
|
Bobby Bowman
From:
Cypress, Texas, USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 8 Sep 2006 4:05 pm
|
|
I also concur with Roller's advice. A little 2 cent set screw (the hard black ones) can make all the difference in the world.
Not "rocket science" here at all. 
Hi Bobbe,,,,hope to see ya October 7 at the Super Duper Jam.
BB
www.bobbybowman.com
------------------
If you play 'em, play 'em good!
If you build 'em, build 'em good!
http://www.bobbybowman.com
|
|
|
|
Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
|
Posted 12 Sep 2006 8:46 am
|
|
Can someone please recommend a good source for these screws, and the specs or size to order?
Thnak you for the great info and help! |
|
|
|
Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
|
Posted 12 Sep 2006 11:00 am
|
|
I bought 100 recently from Bryan Adams.
Jerry |
|
|
|
Jay Ganz
From:
Out Behind The Barn
|
Posted 12 Sep 2006 11:13 am
|
|
I've always had a screw loose when playing my
push/pulls....it's not on the steel though!
 |
|
|
|
