Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

hey all, what kind of wrench do you use to adjust your truss rods? I've got a '76 4001. I bought a T shaped wrench, and the cavity under the truss rod cover doesn't allow me to use it properly. any advice?

Use one with a straight handle. Get the 1/4" tool from RIC. That way you know you'll have right thing for the job. But any thin-walled 1/4" driver should see you right.
The T-shaped ones can break the truss rod if you're not careful.
Hope that helps....

I use this one.Xcelite 1/4.
It has big handle and easy to control!!

My girlfriend says that about me...

HA HA HA!!!

Yea Jeff, those love handles can be used against you if they get too big. (rim-shot & crash!)

I've got a similar truss rod wrench, but it doesn't work! The groove cut into the headstock isn't at the right angle, so the rod doesn't sit on the nut properly. I'm bummed, the neck is a little bit backbowed on the G and D string side. I can hear the string fretting out behind where I fret - it's really annoying. Anyone know a good Ric repairman in Sacramento, CA?

Have the truss rods bent down into the cavity after the aluminum block? That's a real common problem on 4001's (if that's what you have).

I'll try and take a picture tomorrow!

Alright, finally searched out all the stuff I needed to take the pictures:



and here it is with the wrench - hard to tell from the pic, but it won't fit down onto the nut because the rout in the headstock isn't steep enough:

It looks as though they're bent down a little.
In the technical section there is a very good description by Dale on how to bend the nuts back into position.
It worked like a charm on my 4001.
It has to be done properly, though!

When you see them bent like this, it's almost guaranteed that someone previously used the wrong wrench to adjust the rods. They don't just bend over by themselves.

You should also carefully examine the fingerboard-neck joint just behind the nut as often instruments which have been torqued this way have some signs of separation, further evidence of improper previous adjustment.

Finally, be VERY, VERY careful with that T-wrench as this (or worse, a stripped or broken rod) is the usual result of using one.

Aw, what a shame. Locally, nearly every 4001 I've worked on has this problem in varying degrees. Too bad people don't stop and think. My '69 4001 was like new right up to when I sold her because I knew what to do. Must be a guy thing, since we're famous for never reading the manuals!

It is easy to fix if you are careful.

Well, I can't find the thread on fixing the nuts that Kevin mentioned. And it doesn't really sound like something that I want to try myself anyway.

So, I guess the next step is: does anyone know a good repairman in the Sacramento CA area?