When I had this guitar apart, I cleaned up all the machines. I used just a tad of alcohol on Q-tips to dissolve the nicotine stains, nothing real wet just damp. The discs were particularly nasty.
Some of them were stiff to begin with, but now a few of them are really stiff. I don't think I used enough alcohol to dry out the gears, but I was wondering if they can be safely lubed?
I can pull off the knobs and spacers and needle oiler a drop or 2 down thru there. I just strung it up, so I don't want to pull the machines back off. Sperzel is not my favorite machine, but now is not a good time to think about replacing them.
Jerry,
If the screw that holds the 'button" on is too tight, the tuner will be stiff. You might check that if you havent.
I put a drop or two of Tri-Flo in them when I am cleaning up a guitar or doing a restoration. I have never had a problem.
Nothing lost by trying to loosen the buttons I guess. The Grovers on my guitars respond well to that.
As far as the Grovers fitting, it seems that James Moorehead did a bunch of research on those, trying to get something that would work on the old Sho~Buds.
Maybe he will pipe up.
FWIW..I got hold of some old Sperzels that were stiff. I took them apart an discovered old hard white grease in the gears. I cleaned this out with mineral spirits and let dry. Then I put some new white grease in there and they worked great.
Sperzels are good but like everything else, they need some maintenance once in a while.
Thanks for the responses. Yeah, I know I shoulda taken them apart and maintenanced them when they were off the guitar. I guess I had senior moments and focused too much on the re-assembly.
I normally do that. just recently had some butterfly Klusons and enclosed Mullen machines that I cleaned and lubed, but let this one get past me. Thanks all.
Run them with a drill for a while and that usually loosens/smooths them out. Some of the Sperzel's on my 81 Franklin were tight and not smooth. I replaced them with new Sperzel's about 3 years ago and the new ones are as "smooth as butter". They must have developed better manufacturing over the years.
Thanks for the tip Jack. Maybe I'll wait 'til I take the strings off before I try that though.
BTW, I meant no disrespect to Bob Sperzel or the company. You can't build machines for this long without doing something right.
Although it's still in pretty nice shape, this guitar has been around some. It could be partially due to nicotine varnish and maybe a beer or 2 spilled down in there too.
I had those tuners on my "85" Pro I. Same problem!! Couldn't turn at least three of them!! Took them off and machined it for a mini Grover or Schaller!! Never looked back!! On top of that, whoever installed them stripped the threads. Just one of the many headaches that started!!! Loren.
Hmmm....so it's not just me. Sounds like a few of you have seen this.
Yes Loren, I'm considering installing the mini-Grovers at some point. I just like the way they look and I've had good luck with them on several guitars. It would be nice to stay with the stock look of Zum installation but I think the current ones are Schallers. I like the looks of the Grovers better.
Thanks all.
