The Steel Guitar Forum

Does any one have any carter brass dumbells for
sale? the ones that go to bell cranks.

How about a dumbell who plays a Carter?

Al Brisco is the only one I know of.

I spoke with Bent today he may start making them in stainless steel..

Carters are starting to get old now, and things wear.. I would bet that parts will start being made by some of the talented machinists we have with us on the forum... There are a LOT of Carters out there, and guys want them up and running... bob

I spoke with Michael Yahl about adding Carter parts to his offerings, and he told me that as long as Brisco still had original Carter replacement parts (like 10 years worth), he would not enter that market. I would love to see someone making replacement parts where we didn't have to place a minimum $40 order, or $100 if using PayPal as Brisco requires.

If Bent does make them out of stainless, he will have me as a customer for sure

Steven, when I broke my first pin Carter was still in business, but the minimum order cost was $40 I think. I took a good one, photographed and measured it, and made a request to a local machine shop. They didn't have the brass rod, so I bought one online and gave it to them.

I only wish I would have asked for a bunch at the time since they were set up to make me only 6. At the time, I offered $20 but there was no charge since they hired one of my electronics students.



The center measurements were as accurate as I could get with a USB camera and calipers. My A pedal, and other replacements have been good for a few years now.

Mike

I got some a couple years ago from Al Brisco. Try him.

If someone wants to manage a "group buy" I'm happy to obligate myself for a dozen of the buggers.

h

Richard Sinkler wrote:I spoke with Michael Yahl about adding Carter parts to his offerings, and he told me that as long as Brisco still had original Carter replacement parts (like 10 years worth), he would not enter that market. I would love to see someone making replacement parts where we didn't have to place a minimum $40 order, or $100 if using PayPal as Brisco requires.

If Bent does make them out of stainless, he will have me as a customer for sure

Guys, Michael has the right idea here. If Al Brisco can supply the part in as good a quality as the stainless I would not horn in on his business. See what Al says and we'll take it from there. I haven't even committed myself to any of this - have not heard back from my turner as of yet, and I do not have the equipment to do it myself

Hey guys,,,these things would not be that difficult to make. Chuck the stock (maybe start with 1/4" stainless rod??) up in an electric drill,,,,good quality file,,,,the inside diameter would not be that critical,,,just so the bend in the pull rod had a good fit. Of course I certainly wouldn't want to do a production run that way,,,but a few,,,no problem.

Steven I sent you a pm.

Tony

They're machined out of 3/16" brass rod. Al Brisco has them. When I need them I'll be buying from Al.

The dimensions in the photo in Michael Barone's post are spot-on if you need to run up a few to get yourself out of a bind.

If you need quantity (like more than just a few), Al Brisco is the man to see!

No point in having them made with brass as you will have the same problem down the road. Better to get them in stainless steel...
,

I suspect you'd rather have the pulls wear out than the rods. With brass costing more than steel or aluminum, I bet John and Bud chose them for a reason.

I checked all the dumbbells on pedal ABC as they get the use and found all of them almost worn out and ready to snap any day.
While putting them back I manager to snap one of the rods just where it has the bend, it is the A pedal B - C#. Now What else will quit on the Carter uni....I don't even know what size the rod is or what thread is needed. Bummer of a day so far....

I have an older model (97/98)? single neck that I don't believe has the small brass dumbells. I wonder if they changed design thereafter. I'll have to pull it ut and look at it.

Ned McIntosh wrote:If you need quantity (like more than just a few), Al Brisco is the man to see!

I don't see them in his online catalog.

www.steelguitarcanada.com/online-store

I've dropped Al a line via his website.

b0b, I'm guessing that these are the "pull pins" listed in the available kits.

I'll let y'all know as soon as I receive a reply.

h

After reading this, I took out a couple of pull rods and brass pins and I don't see hardly any wear at all on my '96 Carter...One just had a very tiny dent in it, hardly noticeable... I have always kept these lubricated and I think that's what saved them...Just a drop of light oil once or twice a year, depending on how much you play...Carson

I just orderd some pins and an spare pull bar from Al at Steel Guitar Canada. Very nice guy. The pins are $5 each, and the pull bar is $20. As mentioned before, $40 minimum, which goes quick when ordering $5 and $20 parts.

Whew! After reading this topic I was worried about being wanted but then I remembered I sold my Starter & bought me a Willy.

John Roche,

I think you'll find the thread on the Carter pull-rod is 4-40.

I have a strong suspicion the rod is welding-rod, if you took a sample to your local welding supplier, they would probably find a very close match. In the UK I assume welding-rods are now metric, but there would be a rod close enough to take a 4-40 thread.

Of course, the fun part would be putting the bend in the rod for the pull-pin...but if you ordered a rod from Al Brisco that problem doesn't arise, and it comes cut to length and threaded.

I don't see them in his online catalog.

Have no fear b0b, not all of the available parts are listed in the online catalog. I got a bunch of delrin replacement shims for mine and those aren't listed either. I'd be surprised if you couldn't order most any replacement part from Al Brisco.
As far as the minimum order, I've never found that to be a big issue...if your parts don't total $40 you just add in some strings or picks or whatever.

Thanks ned I think they are stainless Steel. That's why it snapped. I will get one from Al.

Confirming from Al what we already know.

Pull pins = $5.00ea
Minimum = $40

If you need one you probably need several plus a spare or two.Sounds reasonable.

This thread has made me paranoid for pull pins. I'll have to take a close look under the hood now.

h