Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey Mark-
About a year ago I installed the strap lock buttons on my 330 (the ones from RIC). My 620/12 came with them. Anyway, the top button on my 330 always backs out a turn or two while I'm playing. I've just been tightening it hand tight (which obviously dosn't work). How tight can I screw in a button, without hurting anything? Should I use a dab of wood glue?
Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,
Phil
330 JG
620/12 JG

Dab on the wood glue .

First ....wet the hole ....this will swell the wood in the hole and the glue will fill the pores as it evaporates/dries.then you will have a nice tight fit .

Do this to both buttons.And reinstall them finger tight.

Mark: I have successfully used a match-stick sliver that provides just the right amount of friction to hold in strap lock buttons "till the end of the day" or even longer. It has taken a bit of practice to get the kinks out. Is there a down-side to this technique?

Before this conversation becomes heated and the flames come my way, I consider that this technique strikes a balance between a gluey mess and more elaborate methods and is easy to match.

With a standard #6 sheet metal screw that the rest of the world uses the match stick or tooth pick works really well ,sometimes with really worn out Rick strap Button holes I use that method ,but as the hole is threaded and the wood maple ,wetting out the hole (use a Q tip cotton swab) ...this swells the wood and then the glue soaks into the pores .

Reinstalling the button "re-threads" the hole .If reinstalled finger tight ,you won't blow out the threads while the glue dries.
After 3 or 4 hours you can tighten it down ...I would wait over night to let it really harden.

Backing out strap buttons is a common problem ...too bad they don't "DING" like a truck when they back up !

It would be a nice warning .

Thanks for shedding the additional light on the subject.