The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi,

I am now the proud owner of a '73 Sho-Bud Pro S10 5 x 5.
The #4 pedal hangs dead. I was told this was due to a broken bell crank. Any ideas on replacement or repair? Any good sources for Sho Bud parts? I am a pretty handy fellar, is this something I should attempt myself? Ready to get this thing up and running.


Thanks!'

A picture of the underside, and a closup of the busted spot would help us know what we're looking at. There are many parts available, and yep, you can do it yourself, if we are sure of the kind of parts you need. Cool guitar BTW!!

Rick,


thanks. I'll get a good picture of the underside this evening and get it posted up.

So,

Here it is. I pointed out whats happening and not happening under there....




overall shot.

Hey JD, It would appear that the arm is slipping on the cross shaft. Check the arm and see if there is an allen set screw, and align it back up and replace the screw or tighten the existing one.I believe I can see the screw or where one is supposed to bein the end of the lever arm. I think it might be an easy fix. Hope this helps.

It looks like you undercarriage has been totally re-done, using some Sho-Bud parts along with other parts. The problem may be the attachment of that bellcrank to it's cross shaft. There is a small set screw, that should hold it tight to the shaft, you can see the threaded hole at the right end of the bellcrank. For this to be secure, there is usually a flat area ground on the shaft where the set screw makes contact. Without that flat area, there is a tendency for the screw to loosen on the shaft. Maybe the bellcrank needs to be replaced, maybe the set screw is bad, maybe the threads in the hole are bad, maybe there is no flat area for the screw to make contact with. You will have to take it apart to find out.

That bellcrank looks like a Sho-Bud part, so you can get a replacement, Michael Yahl is making some nice Sho-Bud parts. Here is his web page: http://www.psgparts.com/

You need to send/take that guitar to a good steel mechanic and have it thoroughly cleaned, lubed, adjusted, and regulated. It will not play accurately if you don't. Classic case of poor maintenance. It's money well spent.

Absolutely it is the BELLCRANK slipping on the cross shaft. There are a few ways to resolve this if you are mechanically handy. If not let someone who IS take a look. They do not need to be a Steel Guitar mechanic, they just need to understand whats happening and be good with tools. This is an easy fix to understand.

The set screw on the LEFT tightens the BELLCRANK against the shaft,( tightens the split) this is actually a design that is destined to failure. I can't be certain if these are stock SHO-BUD parts or not .

Historically for the BELLCRANK to not slip it needs to have a set screw go thru the BC into the shaft or the BC needs to be mounted over a flat surface of the cross shaft and tightened down with a set screw against the flat surface of he shaft.

If this was my Guitar I would drill a small hole thru the BC into the shaft, thread the hole and install the set screw into that hole. You may want to do this with each BC.

After it is fixed then I would take Kevin's advice as well.

good luck

t

t

It looks like there are two rails, that mount all the cross shafts. Normally, Sho-Buds have individual angle brackets for each cross shaft. Which means that you might have to remove the entire undercarriage in order to remove any of the shafts. Hard to tell from the picture. That part is intended to be used on a hex shaped shaft, not a round shaft. So if the shaft is round, it absolutely must have a large flat area on the shaft for the screw to make contact with. Fixing this could be a major job. You should find someone locally that has some experience and have him take a look at it.

Guys,

First and foremost, thank you for the input. Now for the big question...

Who works on steel guitars in the Philadelphia / NY area?

I'm just gonna find someone good and let them give it the once over.

thanks again!

or send it to Bobbe Seymour

Yes, send it to Steel Guitar Nashville for a cleanup and regulation. When you get it back it will be cleaned and regulated. It may have other issues that you are not aware of.

If you want to travel a little more north, John Widgren does work on steels, he's in Connecticutt. I don't have e-mail handy, but, he's on the forum.

I'll vouch for JW as well.

I could fix your ol' Bud for you. I am near Scranton PA