Should I Straighten Tuner Shaft?

[jedzep]

So called 'slightly bent' shafts show up in vintage listings often enough, but I don't know of anyone who has straightened one out, especially without damaging something down the line.

My slightly bent happens to be on a pricey set of Grover wartime G-98's attached to my 00018. The buttons are orig, so I don't want to hurt them, which leaves me little leverage.

Is there a trick to this?

[BluesKing777]

Interesting you bring this up, JZ - a local shop has a Bird with a broken wing (bent tuner shaft):

'Late 60's Hummingbird'.
2017 Made in USA Custom Shop.
LR Baggs Element VTC onboard pickup with discreet Volume and Tone controls. Bent tuner on D string could use repair or replacement. Includes official Gibson case and Certificate of Authenticity.

I will wait for the experts, but perhaps a thick rag over the button and bend the shaft back gently with pliers? Surely it can't be this easy or the shop above would have done it, eh?


BluesKing777.

[jedzep]

That's my logic too. If it's easy why sell before straightening.

You're probably right, though. Thick rag and flatten button profile, without applying pressure to the very edge of it.

[Brucebubs]

This guy removes the tuner button first which I think might be a good idea if you can do it neatly.

[devellis]

I'd leave it alone. It's part of the guitar's history, doesn't impact playability, and fixing it runs the risk of damage worse than the original problem. If you feel that it absolutely needs addressing, I suggest you bring it to a pro.

I've had instruments with bent tuner shafts, so I can definitely relate to the temptation. But tuners with a slightly bent shaft still work (although maybe not with a power winder) and I've never been strongly inclined to take the risk. It takes a lot of force to bend a piece of metal the thickness of the shaft a tuner button sits on and controlling that force adequately to end up dead straight seems beyond my skill (or, at least, confidence) level. Your mileage may vary.

[The Bard Rocks]

They work fine like that - unless it hits another tuner. Severely bent, you'd run the risk of snapping off the shaft as it is stronger the straighter it is. I'd worry more about buggering up the button than the shaft, although that would worry me as well. Some really old buttons deteriorate and become unstable. If it is really valuable, I'd take to a technician.

[DesertTwang]

I wouldn't. I had bent tuner in my vintage Epiphone and left it alone. Finally, when I found a replacement tuner that vaguely resembles the original one by rummaging through a shoebox full of old tuners at a local shop, I took the old tuning shaft out and tried to straighten it, since at that point, I had nothing to loose by trying. It broke immediately.

[jedzep]

[IMG][/IMG]

Wise, all. If I damage it I'll never find a replacement

[1Charlie]

Jedzep, I would totally leave that bent shaft alone.

Metal gets brittle as it ages, and a bent tuner is already weaker at the point where it is bent.

[AcousticWoody]

What kind of material is it made of? Steel, alloy, aluminum, pot metal, ...?

[Kitkatjoe]

Originally Posted by jedzep

So called 'slightly bent' shafts show up in vintage listings often enough, but I don't know of anyone who has straightened one out, especially without damaging something down the line.

My slightly bent happens to be on a pricey set of Grover wartime G-98's attached to my 00018. The buttons are orig, so I don't want to hurt them, which leaves me little leverage.

Is there a trick to this?

I'd leave it alone. It would be bad if you did more damage to it if you are planning on keeping it. If you could find a set you like you could replace them.