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Old 10-25-2016, 08:18 PM
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KenL KenL is offline
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Default Open Tuners- Lubricate?

I've got a new-to-me guitar on my bench right now, am cleaning it up. Built in 2003, and in excellent condition.

It's got Waverly open tuners that seem to work fine, and all 6 seem to pull about the same.

Do these tuners need to be greased a little bit? And if so, with what?

Thanks!
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Old 10-25-2016, 08:25 PM
zabdart zabdart is offline
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Some people use a drop of 3-in-1 oil while some people use a spot of graphite, but you only need to do it if the tuners are noticeably stiff when you're tuning the guitar up. If not, the best policy is to leave well enough alone.
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Old 10-25-2016, 10:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KenL View Post
It's got Waverly open tuners that seem to work fine
Then they don't need anything. I've heard of Waverlys going for decades without needing lubrication. Stew-Mac says to use petroleum jelly if and when you need to, but mostly you should just keep 'em clean.
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Old 10-25-2016, 11:03 PM
Howard Klepper Howard Klepper is offline
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Bronze and stainless steel have a low coefficient of friction between them, but still, there is metal moving against metal. I use a dry teflon bike chain lube. This:



A few years ago I recommended a teflon bike chain lube (at the time I was using Tri-Flow) to StewMac's tech Eric Coleman. The next time I saw him, he thanked me and told me he was using it on Waverlies. I don't know where the no lube or vaseline thing got started; I can't find it on their website.
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Old 10-25-2016, 11:21 PM
Tico Tico is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Willie Voltaire View Post
... but mostly you should just keep 'em clean.
Since dirt/debris adheres to grease, how does one keep an exposed lubricated gear clean?

The only way I can imagine is, disassemble and soak in Isopropyl Alcohol, brush with alcohol, then re-lube and assemble?

Of course, even better is preventing exposure to dust/etc.
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Old 10-26-2016, 02:12 AM
AZLiberty AZLiberty is offline
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Originally Posted by Tico View Post

Of course, even better is preventing exposure to dust/etc.
As an Arizonan, I can't understand why anyone would want open gear tuners. Dust gets into everything.
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Old 10-26-2016, 04:38 AM
murrmac123 murrmac123 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tico View Post
Since dirt/debris adheres to grease, how does one keep an exposed lubricated gear clean?

The only way I can imagine is, disassemble and soak in Isopropyl Alcohol, brush with alcohol, then re-lube and assemble?

Of course, even better is preventing exposure to dust/etc.
I can't speak for the conditions in which other people keep their guitars, but there ain't no dirt or debris ever gotten into my open tuners.

I do have a Kirby vacuum cleaner in the house which gets used regularly and helps to maintain a clean environment.
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Old 10-26-2016, 04:45 AM
Gasworker Gasworker is offline
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I personally don't follow the guitar lubrication theories. These aren't working gears that require greasing. It's only my opinion but all of this wood and tuners lubrication would attract and hold onto dirt.
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Old 10-26-2016, 04:52 AM
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If I can get one guy to chime in with "dunk the whole headstock in EVOO", I'll have all the bases covered!

I'm going to restring it this morning, and if the tuners feel okay to me then I think I'll just leave it alone for now. The whole guitar was pretty clean, unlike the basket cases I usually buy.

Thanks for the replies though, plenty to consider.
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Old 10-26-2016, 07:40 AM
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Old 10-26-2016, 08:24 AM
murrmac123 murrmac123 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Willie Voltaire View Post
That tutorial is for sealed tuners, which have been packed with grease at the factory. Open tuners don't get packed with grease at the factory.
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Old 10-26-2016, 10:14 AM
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Originally Posted by murrmac123 View Post
That tutorial is for sealed tuners, which have been packed with grease at the factory. Open tuners don't get packed with grease at the factory.
Cool. I'll delete the link. Thanks.
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Old 10-26-2016, 10:17 AM
RustyAxe RustyAxe is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KenL View Post
I've got a new-to-me guitar on my bench right now, am cleaning it up. Built in 2003, and in excellent condition.

It's got Waverly open tuners that seem to work fine, and all 6 seem to pull about the same.

Do these tuners need to be greased a little bit? And if so, with what?

Thanks!
No. They aren't spinning, whirling gears. Keep 'em clean, that's all you need to do. Putting any kind of oil, grease on them will just attract grunge. If they're stiff (and OP says his are not) it's not usually a lack of lubrication, but some sort of misalignment (did they get bumped and bent?) or in need of minor adjustment.
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Old 10-26-2016, 10:39 AM
DupleMeter DupleMeter is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KenL View Post
If I can get one guy to chime in with "dunk the whole headstock in EVOO", I'll have all the bases covered!

I'm going to restring it this morning, and if the tuners feel okay to me then I think I'll just leave it alone for now. The whole guitar was pretty clean, unlike the basket cases I usually buy.

Thanks for the replies though, plenty to consider.
Dunk the whole headstock in EVOO, but only cold pressed

(couldn't resist)
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Old 10-26-2016, 10:53 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by murrmac123 View Post
That tutorial is for sealed tuners, which have been packed with grease at the factory. Open tuners don't get packed with grease at the factory.
I would call those covered rather than sealed. As far as lubrication, they'd be no different than olen tuners.
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