Tight open-back tuners

[soma5]

I have a guitar with tight open-backed tuners. The buttons do not turn easily, and they also turn in a jerky way so it's hard to get the guitar in tune. Short of replacing them, what can be done to make them smoother? I have various lubes but I am not sure which ones are safe to use (could create a mess, eat through finish, etc.). I am thinking to use Guitar Grease (wax with graphite) that I got from StewMac many years ago but I thought it best to ask those who know.

Thanks.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Chances are the strings are pulling the post forward a little causing the driven gear to bind against the worm gear. The fix is to remove the tuner body, fill the screw holes (a cocktail toothpick and a bit of glue), and redrill them as far south as possible. The goal is to have the post perfectly perpendicular to the plate under tension. It is a very subtle relationship and not as easy to get right as one would imagine.

[soma5]

So the holes are likely too far "north" allowing the string tension to pull the post toward the body of the guitar? That makes sense. I will see if the tuner turns smoothly with no tension to rule out that possibility and then likely proceed as you described.

Thanks.

[charles Tauber]

Originally Posted by soma5

I will see if the tuner turns smoothly with no tension to rule out that possibility and then likely proceed as you described.

Check how much play there is in the tuning post without string tension. Ideally, there should be no wiggle action of the post. Any wiggle room will allow the post to pulled so that the spur gear isn't perpendicular to the worm gear. Good tuning machines, properly installed will have little, if any play.

[soma5]

The tuning machines are tight with no string tension. I think that they are candidates for replacement.

[Frank Ford]

First line of defense is lubrication.

Use some regular lubricating oil (motor oil, 3-in-one, triflow, or whatever) and make sure you get some on all the moving parts, the worm, cog, bearings.

Be careful and don't soak the peghead in oil, of course, but don't worry a bout a drip or two on the finish - it will wipe right off.

[soma5]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[lowrider]

What guitar is this? Which tuners? I have a CS J-17 that has awful tuners. They are the restoration tuners from Stew Mac and they are so stiff I’m ready to do away with them.

[soma5]

The tuners are Gotoh, they look like the SE700 tuners. I have actually succeeded in solving this problem. I'll take some photos and write something up. I don't guarantee that my solution will work with other tuners, and probably I should give the appropriate disclaimers about these Gotoh tuners, too. However, I did solve my problem and I'm now happy.

Photos and explanations to come.

[DickHutchings]

Spacing is so critical with tuners on plates. That's why I bought a drill jig for installing on mandolins. StewMac has them for guitars as well.

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by soma5

The tuners are Gotoh, they look like the SE700 tuners. I have actually succeeded in solving this problem. I'll take some photos and write something up. I don't guarantee that my solution will work with other tuners, and probably I should give the appropriate disclaimers about these Gotoh tuners, too. However, I did solve my problem and I'm now happy.

Photos and explanations to come.

Did you get around to doing your write-up and taking photos?