The Steel Guitar Forum

I have some extra long bellcranks that I have listed for sale here http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=123614. The problem is I don't know how many different guitars they will fit. They were designed for a 3/8" square cross shaft but I've been asked about them working on other 5/16" shafts used by various guitar manufacturers (ie. Emmons, and ???). I would like to know what brands of guitar use a square cross-shaft and the size.
Also, any opinions on using this bellcrank on a 5/16" shaft using a shim or washer?

Thanks for your help..

Tommy,
My MCI(Waco) has 3/8" square cross shafts.

The shim or spacer concept will work if they can be kept tight.

Bob

Tommy, I have some bellcranks for EMCI or MCI that are both sizes, so you would need to have measurements on a particular guitar of those brands.
Jerry

Tommy---my Carter is 3/8". My Fess is 5/16".

I could see doing the shim thing on a 5/16" shaft in a pinch and if done very well it should work fine but frankly, it would be a bit less than a precision application in a spot that calls for tight machining.
Half-assed, in other words. Someone who really knows what he's doing would be alright but a handyman/hack would have himself a weak link in his pull chain.

Tommy,
If you could drill/tap another setscrew @ 90 degrees, and use 2 shims, or if you could find some alum angle the right thickness for shims would work in a pinch.A hobby shop may carry the aluminum.


Bill

Can anyone tell me the size of the cross-shaft on Rains and Franklin guitars? Thanks

Tommy, Franklin shafts are 5/16" ROUND with a flat surface for set screws. Rains is 5/16" square shaft.
Jerry

Where can my machinist buddy get some 5/16" square stock to make cross shafts? Anyone? Uncle Doug

He should be able to use 5/16 key stock. This comes is various lengths. You can find it in most hardware stores.