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Topic: Roller Nut Axle |
Jonathan Cullifer
From:
Gallatin, TN
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Posted 20 Aug 2009 6:51 am |
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| I usually clean the grit out of the roller nut axle on my guitar every time I restring my guitar, but I can't get the axle out of its slot. Any ideas on how I can safely do this? The guitar in question is a Carter. |
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Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
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Posted 20 Aug 2009 9:34 am
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Jonathan,
A small screwdriver with a couple of wraps of tape to prevent scaring/scratching the rollers,very carefully pry under the rollers a little at a time ,working your way from one side to the other till the axle clears. Maybe john will chime in with a better way.
Bill
_________________
Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
Steeling for Jesus now!!! |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 20 Aug 2009 10:32 am
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Pray tell, what kind of gritty conditions do you live under, dude? Is your steel outdoors during sandstorms?  |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 20 Aug 2009 12:31 pm
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Jonathan,Sometimes I take a very small screwdriver, smaller diameter than the axel and gently tap the end of the axel with a very tiny hammer from one end. 
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Don Brown, Sr.
From:
New Jersey
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Posted 20 Aug 2009 4:28 pm
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Jonathan,
Here is what you do, to prevent any scratching, tapping or anything else. I just did this with one of my Carters.
I used twisted Nylon (only thing I had here laying around) approximately 1/16" diameter string.
Make a large loop, by passing one end of the string, under the 3rd string roller. Bring the end up and tie to the other end of the string, making sure to get the loop large enough to put a finger through it.
Do the same with the 7th string roller (in order to get equal pulling force up, on the shaft).
Now get a good grip on them using a finger on each hand. Then using your thumbs as leverage, very slowly lift upwards, rocking it a little each way to get it started, and it will lift right on up and out.
No marks, no scars, and no hassles.
Tricks of the trade..
Hope that helps
Don
Last edited by Don Brown, Sr. on 21 Aug 2009 7:30 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 20 Aug 2009 9:02 pm
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My thought is that you may have struck the top edges of the slots that the axle drops into and maybe closed up the opening enough to trap the axle. If that is the case, Stu has the remedy. Once you tap the axle out the end you can carefully file the slots enough to allow the axle to be placed back in from the top.
Jerry |
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Jonathan Cullifer
From:
Gallatin, TN
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Posted 21 Aug 2009 7:13 am
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| Thanks for the info. I normally take them out three or four times a year to remove whatever grime normally accumulates there, and found it odd that both stuck at the same time. I'll post back when I get a chance to try this again (had to put strings on my guitar for a gig yesterday). |
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Paul Redmond
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2009 2:07 am
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The slots for roller axles are usually machined with a "slotting saw" which can cut an undersized slot. By undersized, I mean only a few ten-thousandths of an inch. That can change a "slip fit" into a "press fit" right away. A soft axle can and will usually bend when being removed no matter how gently you remove it. I have always used heat-treated mold ejector pins for these axles as they are very hard and rigid, and usually .0004" to .0005" undersize. They can be obtained from Smith Enterprises in Wood Dale IL at (630)595-0202. They cannot be cut off by sawing to length. They must be ground off and ground to length...these babies are HARD.
PRR |
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Paul Redmond
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2009 2:16 am
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FWIW this "stuck" roller axle phenomenon is NOT indigenous to Carter guitars. Most every guitar I've ever worked on has had a "stuck" roller axle. I don't know if I'm unlucky or what? It only takes a minute dimensional deviation to change a "slip" fit into a "press" fit...no fault of a builder. That's just tolerances in action. This can also be "tolerances in action" re: the axle diameter itself!!! Nobody is perfect.
PRR |
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Paul Redmond
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 29 Aug 2009 2:18 am
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How'd I do, John?
PRR |
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