The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic Knee Lever Problem
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Knee Lever Problem
Paul Graupp

 

From:
Macon Ga USA
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2002 6:55 am    
Reply with quote

I have a friend who doesn't have a computer but is having a problem with his left knee right lever. He has diabetes and has hurt his left leg inside where it contacts the LKR lever. His doctor has told him to stop doing that but we all know he can't so I was wondering if anyone else has encountered this problem and what your solution was. He has tried a bandage on his leg to no avail and there isn't a lot of room for modification to the knee lever on his Zum D-10 itself. Any help would be certainly appreciated !!

Regards, Paul
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

John Lacey

 

From:
Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2002 7:02 am    
Reply with quote

I think that Al Brisco has installed some kind of a rubber-type sleeve on Carter knee levers to make them more comfortable. Perhaps contact Al.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2002 7:37 am    
Reply with quote

They make a kind of sponge-rubber tubing that's used to insulate refrigeration lines called "Armaflex". It's black, and the type used for 1/2" lines should work quite nicely as a knee-lever pad (it would slide right over the lever, and could be taped or glued in place). Any AC serviceman would probably give you a short piece! That's about all I can think of, other than changing the side-knee lever to a vertical type.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Gil Berry

 

From:
Westminster, CA, USA
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2002 8:56 am    
Reply with quote

I would suggest your friend try attaching a piece of plastic, or cardboard, or whatever, around the sensitive area with elastic or perhaps velcro. A hard enough piece of plexiglass bent around that sore knee and held in place with velcro would be ideal - kinda like knee pads for skaters or hockey players - would be unsightly, but what the heck...it would solve the soreness problem.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Gil Berry

 

From:
Westminster, CA, USA
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2002 8:59 am    
Reply with quote

Oh, yea, and as for "padding" the lever - I had a similar problem for a while and to solve it I put some foam pipe insulation over my knee levers. It's available almost anywhere - like home depot or lowe's. But it would still hurt unless that pressure is spread out more. Think a hard pad on the leg is the better solution.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Mark Herrick


From:
Bakersfield, CA
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2002 9:05 am    
Reply with quote

Why not move that change over to the right knee?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Joerg Hennig


From:
Bavaria, Germany
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2002 11:11 am    
Reply with quote

I understand the ZumĀ“s knee levers are square and quite narrow (as most of them), so the pressure when pushing them is concentrated in that one spot. I would consider manufacturing a rectangular plate, could be of metal or even plastic, maybe put some kind of pad on it to make it softer and fix it to the original lever. In that way the pressure should be alleviated. And, of course, adjust the lever to be as smooth as possible. Just an idea.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Bill Ford


From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2002 11:53 am    
Reply with quote

Joe Henry's rectangle sounds like the best so far.It could be made of 1/8" aluminum
and the edges rolled to relieve the sharp corners and then padded with a soft foam.
It could be made as long/wide as space permits.
A machine shop could weld tabs on it so that it could be removed if it would not fit the case with it attached,also allow adjustment up/down.......

Bill Ford

------------------

[This message was edited by Bill Ford on 20 June 2002 at 12:58 PM.]

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Michael Johnstone


From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2002 12:13 pm    
Reply with quote

All good ideas.When I was helping Joaquin Murphey to get started playing again after a long layoff,he had the same problem.He had never used knee levers and found them uncomfortable so I used the foam rubber sleeving used on bicycle handlebars.
Now in my own case,because of an old hang glider injury,I have bolts and pins on the left side of my left knee right under the skin and if I catch the edge of a stock knee lever just right,it can cut my knee open right down to the bolt/bone.I've done it a couple of times and it's a bloody mess and takes forever to heal,so after that I replaced my stock LKL(E to F)lever w/a custom made extra wide lever w/a 3/32" neoprene rubber pad.It's smooth sailin' now. -MJ-
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Earnest Bovine


From:
Los Angeles CA USA
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2002 12:43 pm    
Reply with quote

Quote:
if I catch the edge of a stock knee lever just right,it can cut my knee open right down to the bolt/bone.I've done it a couple of times and it's a bloody mess
ick
View user's profile Send private message

Paul Graupp

 

From:
Macon Ga USA
Post  Posted 20 Jun 2002 1:56 pm    
Reply with quote

My sincere thanks to each of you for your concern and input. I've made a copy of this thread and will see that my (OUR !!) friend gets to see each of your posts. I know he is going to like this. This is what makes the Forum such a neat place to come and visit. Now if I can get my sense of humor back, I get into the Humor section and post some jokes. I got wrapped up in my own problems and things just didn't seem funny anymore. I'm thinking the best cure for that is to help someone else and forget your own stuff for a change !!

Warmest Regards To All You All !! Paul
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

George Rozak


From:
Braidwood, Illinois USA
Post  Posted 21 Jun 2002 1:08 pm    
Reply with quote

This link looks like it might be a viable solution - hand crafted knee pads made especially for steel guitar knee levers...

click here

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP