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Topic: Seeking advice on removing/Installing tuners on keyheads. |
Karl Smakula
From:
Nashville, TN
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Posted 26 Aug 2020 2:45 pm |
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I recently acquired a GFI Expo D10 and a MSA Classic SS D10 that the previous owner seems to have used as an ashtray, so I attempted to go about removing a decade of Marlboro and dirt off of them. I’m relatively new to attempting maintenance on a PSG, so I didn’t anticipate the difficulty of removing and reinstalling the tuners without removing the key heads.Some have been removed and reinstalled, but I can’t get them tight enough to feel secure about tuning. A socket doesn’t fit in there, and a wrench only fits occasionally. I would very much like to avoid removing the key heads, as they are partially bolted to the cabinet directly underneath a cross shaft. So if anyone has advice on how to perform this procedure, I’d love to hear it. Attached are pictures of the respective key heads for reference. Thanks so much.
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Jack Goodson
From:
new brockton,alabama (deceased)
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Posted 26 Aug 2020 4:24 pm changing tuners on a d10?
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| when i do both necks i remove the rear neck keyhead, also if i u can find a wrench the correct size that has a boxed end and also an open end, it works pretty good....thanks jack |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 26 Aug 2020 5:57 pm
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I have a Craftsman igntion wrench set that I use. Small, thin wrenches. Usually a 10mm box end or sometimes an open end will loosen the bushing so's you can get them out with your fingers.
Never had ocassion to do that on the guitars you have there, but have used them on many others.
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Gene Tani
From:
Pac NW
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Posted 26 Aug 2020 8:26 pm
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Could try a small crescent wrench but before you start w/wrenches in there, you can cut a piece of milk jug or flexible cutting board like they sell in Walmart and give the wood on the MSA a little protection
_________________
- 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 27 Aug 2020 6:34 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Karl Smakula
From:
Nashville, TN
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Posted 27 Aug 2020 4:36 pm
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| oh boy I knew it would be a solution that would make me feel dumb for not figuring it out. Thanks for taking the time to answer, everyone. |
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Doug Earnest
From:
Branson, MO USA
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Posted 27 Aug 2020 5:21 pm
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Using the correct 12 point box end wrench as pictured in the post above you can probably remove the GFI keys in place. Likely to be 10mm.
On the MSA it looks as if removing the keyheads is the way to do it. There does not appear to be enough space to get a combination wrench on the nut, you will need a socket.If that is the one where a cross shaft is in the way maybe you can just remove the fasteners from a bracket of the cross shaft to allow access without completely removing anything. Most of the work on a pedal steel is not too hard, just use your head and think twice before you do anything, just like you are doing!
Gene's tip on a protective strip can not hurt anything either. Knowing how much caution and effort goes into building a nice guitar I sure hate to see them mistreated. The same guy that throws his bar and picks down on the guitar and flips his ashes in the keyhead is the first one to whine about a tiny mark on a new one.....! Good on you for cleaning things. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 27 Aug 2020 6:33 pm
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Go easy when you're tightening those nuts! The threads on the tuners are pretty fine, and there aren't many of them, so the tuners can be stripped fairly easily.  |
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Bobby D. Jones
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 27 Aug 2020 9:17 pm
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I changed strings a week or so ago, found the same problem on my GFI Ultra. It has key bars like the bottom picture, MSA? You just need to remove one side of the key head front and back to use a socket on the keys.
If you have a set of PROTO or CRAFTSMAN SOCKETS With thin walls they may work easy. I had a cheap 6 point socket that was the exact hole size, And a drag fit in the hole. I got them snugged down though. If I use it again, It goes to my building and gets introduced to my Grinder, Sparks will fly and grind the outside diameter down a little.
To clean the GFI 1 piece key head and install keys would be easier if you just remove the key head, Clean the body and key head. Install all the keys, Then replace the key head. With the key head off guitar you should be able to use a open end box end wrench to tighten those keys.
Good Luck on this adventure and back Happy Steelin. |
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