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Topic: Lost a knee lever on Carter Starter - how to get it back! |
Tommi Toijonen
From:
Kouvola, Finland
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Posted 2 Dec 2013 1:51 pm |
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Hi everybody!
Bought a Carter a few years ago and the right side left foot knee lever has gotten loose. It was attached to wood with two screws so obviously one would think you just should screw them in.
However another one of the screws is totally unattainable since the mechanism that pushes the rod is right above the screw. I think this picture illustrates the situation. (Sorry for possible copyright crime, it's from someone here)
Well, the srew I'm talking about is like the one in the left of the picture. I tried and managed to remove that hammer shaped thing over the screw (the one that pushes the rod), but after screwing the screw into wood there wasn't enough space to attach the hammer like thingie back... There's so little room there. Between the rock and a hard place innit?
So... What would you do to fix it? |
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Tucker Jackson
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 2 Dec 2013 5:22 pm
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Well, the good news is that the hammer-shaped piece can be attached, and I say that because somebody put in on at the Carter factory. And as you pointed out, the only way to get to the screw that attaches the bracket to the wood is if that hammer piece is not on the bracket.
I'm sure you've tried this, but if not: take the piece you're trying to put on and just start to put the screw into the hole -- but don't let it come out the other side. This will give you maximum clearance to then drop the piece straight down into position.
If that doesn't work, maybe you can just reverse the screw and have it enter from the other side of the bracket. That way you only have to worry about having space for the nut.
Good luck! |
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Henry Matthews
From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
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Posted 2 Dec 2013 8:57 pm
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Use a flat headed screw that you can counter sink flat with the bracket.
_________________
Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes. |
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Tommi Toijonen
From:
Kouvola, Finland
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Posted 4 Dec 2013 12:42 am
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Thanks guys!
Gonna try turning the bolt another way around today. I also bought a hex headed wood screw in case I could tighten it with a little wrench from side.
(Althou three knee levers is plenty for my motoric ability  )
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 4 Dec 2013 3:52 am
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That's not a wood screw, that is a self tapping sheet metal screw, and will not hold well in wood!!!
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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Tommi Toijonen
From:
Kouvola, Finland
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Posted 4 Dec 2013 5:40 am
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| Indeed it isn't. But it was the only one with hex head I found. |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2013 9:41 am
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| There is abdo-lutely no way I would use that screw in wood! Find a clutch head or something. Just make sure it's a wood screw. |
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Tommi Toijonen
From:
Kouvola, Finland
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Posted 4 Dec 2013 11:46 pm
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It was too big anyway so I ended up using the original screw. However, no success yet, but I'm still trying. Very tight space there.
Another thing I think need is a picture of where those rods of that particular lever should go. I think there may be something else missing or wrong since the response feels totally different than other levers (when I move the next part, whatever it's called, by hand. The rod seems to just move the tuning tap and I don't see or feel a spring that would return it back. Well, gotta consult the manual.
Except there's no chart or pic on the manual that would show how that particular mechanism should be like. I know LKR should bend E strings (4 th and 8th) half step down to Eb. |
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Sean Borton
From:
Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
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Posted 5 Dec 2013 5:16 am
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| Tommi Toijonen wrote: |
The rod seems to just move the tuning tap and I don't see or feel a spring that would return it back. Well, gotta consult the manual.
Except there's no chart or pic on the manual that would show how that particular mechanism should be like. I know LKR should bend E strings (4 th and 8th) half step down to Eb. |
A stock Carter Starter is setup with the following.
LKL - Raises the E's a half step to F
LKR - Lowers the E's a half step to Eb
RKL - Lowers the B (5th) to Bb
RKR - Lowers the 2nd string from Eb to D
Any lowers should have a spring. If it's missing, you will need to get one as that string will never tune or respond properly. |
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Tommi Toijonen
From:
Kouvola, Finland
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Posted 27 Dec 2013 3:43 pm
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I managed to get the knee lever back on where it belongs. All the springs go where they should and for a bend or two it all worked quite fine.
I turned the hex screw and the nut another way around to get me some more room to work:
And my wife got her little fingers there so we got it tightened up:
Did I already say for a bend or two? The wood screw didn't make it - or to be precise the wood didn't make it. So now I have the whole left knee right side lever off.
I think the work load to bend two strings up is just too much for the screws that hold the lever. I think I drill a hole right thru the dang thing an put a bolt and a nut (with a washer) from the top of the instrument.  |
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Russ Wever
From:
Kansas City
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Posted 28 Dec 2013 2:31 pm
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Before ya drill through the whole dang
thing why not use a Hex Drive Insert?
_________________
www.russface
www.russguru |
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Tommi Toijonen
From:
Kouvola, Finland
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Posted 29 Dec 2013 4:04 am
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| Hmmm... gotta give that a thought. Althou I think those too will be pulled out by the force the lever makes. |
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Tommi Toijonen
From:
Kouvola, Finland
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Posted 29 Dec 2013 11:25 am
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It's sunday and the hardware stores are closed. Needed to get into bending... so drilling and bolting time it was. This one should be unbreakable:
 [/img] |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 30 Dec 2013 9:20 am
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Did you once own my Marlen?
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