Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

So, the old Grovers. I've read about exploding ones (no explosions yet!), but what about where they're just not holding tuning very well? It's mainly my E; it's smooth enough, but can be knocked so easily and seems pretty difficult to get it to accurate pitch and keep it there. Any suggestions?

Oftentimes these are over-lubricated, and this can make them move too easily under tension and vibration. A little grease (not oil!) goes a long way. Do not pack the entire tuner with grease!

This is excessive:



Take 'em apart, clean the grease out, put a little bit of grease on the worm gear, and reassemble. Don't stake--drill, tap, countersink, and Loc-Tite the screws. I use 2-56 X 1/4" stainless steel flat head Phillips from McMaster-Carr.

Grovers that are too loose can be disassembled and the spur gear shimmed with a small nylon washer that's been sanded to the proper thickness (trial and error, unfortunately).

Thanks for the great picture Paul !
I had been meaning to ask the screw size as I have some Explode-o-matics that
a 1 ton arbor press can't fix LOL! Stakes are too short to peen/swage properly...

Shim and machine screwing together should fix this, but the E will suffer more, check for wear from the post being used at an angle, deforming of the box and the output tube may need gently squashing back to round.
Getting 2-56 will be difficult over here, BA machine screws will be easier and the taps too.

Thanks Paul, I'll try and have a look at them asap. Unfortunately I've managed to query this at a bad time; I've just cut a piece of my left hand first finger off whilst chopping lettuce, leaving my left hand rather compromised for the next several weeks (at a guess).

I do have a spare bent tuner I can practice on, but if I get stuck I may be back for clarification if that's ok; I am to DIY maintenance what Jim Carrey is to keeping a straight face.

Always bad when grovers are too greasy...

henry5 wrote:Thanks Paul, I'll try and have a look at them asap. Unfortunately I've managed to query this at a bad time; I've just cut a piece of my left hand first finger off whilst chopping lettuce, leaving my left hand rather compromised for the next several weeks (at a guess).

I do have a spare bent tuner I can practice on, but if I get stuck I may be back for clarification if that's ok; I am to DIY maintenance what Jim Carrey is to keeping a straight face.

A good friend did the identical thing to his left forefinger while opening a can of dog food last week...

Anyway, I do have a video on Grover rebuilding. Maybe now's the time to edit and post it?

2-56 screws aren't all that difficult to get. McMaster ships all over the world...of course, you'll get 100 when you need 16, and shipping will be three times the price. At least you could say that you've been well and truly screwed...

without getting kissed first !!!

jingle_jangle wrote: Anyway, I do have a video on Grover rebuilding. Maybe now's the time to edit and post it?

Please do

jingle_jangle wrote:

henry5 wrote:Thanks Paul, I'll try and have a look at them asap. Unfortunately I've managed to query this at a bad time; I've just cut a piece of my left hand first finger off whilst chopping lettuce, leaving my left hand rather compromised for the next several weeks (at a guess).

I do have a spare bent tuner I can practice on, but if I get stuck I may be back for clarification if that's ok; I am to DIY maintenance what Jim Carrey is to keeping a straight face.

A good friend did the identical thing to his left forefinger while opening a can of dog food last week...

Anyway, I do have a video on Grover rebuilding. Maybe now's the time to edit and post it?

2-56 screws aren't all that difficult to get. McMaster ships all over the world...of course, you'll get 100 when you need 16, and shipping will be three times the price. At least you could say that you've been well and truly screwed...

Ouch.

Yep, that would be great if you could post it. Guys like me need all the help we can get.

henry5 wrote:I've just cut a piece of my left hand first finger off whilst chopping lettuce, :

Some jobs are better left to the experts.

Indeed.

jingle_jangle wrote: Anyway, I do have a video on Grover rebuilding. Maybe now's the time to edit and post it?

Paul, as I'm currently somewhat incapacitated anyway, I'll wait for the video. I'd be extremely grateful if you can advise when the video is done and where to find it.

OK, now I'm committed...it'll be up on my YouTube channel. I'll try to get to it this week.

henry5 wrote:

jingle_jangle wrote: Anyway, I do have a video on Grover rebuilding. Maybe now's the time to edit and post it?

Paul, as I'm currently somewhat incapacitated anyway, I'll wait for the video. I'd be extremely grateful if you can advise when the video is done and where to find it.

Me too