Lubricating tuners (Miller)

Tollundmanden

I have an AJL guitar with what I guess is rebranded Miller tuners. The problem is that they seem to be 'sticking' in whatever position they are in and not turning as smoothly as they once did. This makes fine tuning the guitar quite difficult. Would it be possible to lubricate to the tuners and what would be a suitable lubricant?
The mechanism itself seems to be closed off by a metal clip, and I'm not sure how the get them off or if it is even advisable.

wim

Good question. Can you post a photo of the tuners?

Tollundmanden

Sure!

pickitjohn

If you can get it to the gears, petroleum jelly is good you can use a glue syringe. It may be easier to use graphite powder, may find it at a locksmiths.

Tube-O-Lube 31644G Dry Powder Graphite Lubricant at Amazon


http://www.amazon.com/Tube-O-Lube-31644G-Powder-Graphite-Lubricant/dp/B000R8983A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1386427189&sr=8-3&keywords=graphite+powder



pick on

pickitjohn

Matteo

Maybe ask the builder?

Bones

Yeah I would just email AJL. Be careful not to get lube anywhere outside of the bearing surfaces. It only takes the smallest little film on the surface.

Also, don't forget about the shafts/bushings in the headstock in case that is where your problem is. Make sure that the tuners turn freely when the string tension is relaxed to make sure that there isn't just a binding or contamination problem (rather than lack of lube).

Jazzaferri

Something to keep in mind...some tuners appear to need a certain amount of internal friction to hold the tuning. Many years ago I put a Moly based lube on a set and they never held their tune after that

Al Watsky

I was talking to AJ about the tuners yesterday.
They are Schaller type a sealed system concealed by the traditional looking covers. They should not need lubrication. At least not until they are 30 or more years old.
So the problem is not likely to be with the tuners.
There may be other friction.
Don't use anything that won't stay where you put it.
You would need to disassemble the tuner and only put lube on the bearing points and gears.
Use a lithium type lube. Its going to stay put.
Also do email AJ. He knows his guitars.

Jazzaferri

Listen to Al.... ]

pickitjohn

Just doing a test here. In my leave a comment box my last post automatically shows up from the saved version. just wanting to see if posting again clears it out.

Thanks

I Like the NEW FORMAT

pick on

pickitjohn

Al Watsky

Just want to add one other fact to the mix.
Any stringed instrument with a tailpiece and movable bridge will store energy behind the bridge and nut when its being tuned. In other words when you tune with the pegs the stretching or loosening of the string can , its raising or lowering of pitch can be slowed by friction at the minus fret or the bridge.
When we tune violins its common to press behind the nut and or bridge to release the stored energy.
You can do that on an arch top guitar or GJ guitar as well. So if you feel that the pitch is lagging behind the turning of the peg press lightly on the string behind the minus fret or pull up on the string behind the bridge. You will find that you can both raise and lower the pitch this way by a few cents in either direction.
No matter how smooth and friction free the workings of an instrument are friction is still present . The break angle of the string at the two extreme points and the contact points are always going to present a difficulty. The happy fact is that ones these instruments are tuned they tend to be quite stable.
The strings being metal will compress the wood fiber of the bridge and gaul the minus fret its a fact.