Tech: tuner knob maintenance

Subject: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: Felipa
Date: 18 Aug 15 - 06:43 PM

There is lots of information on the web about cleaning and maintening tuning pegs and tuning machine heads (some contradictory opinions re what oils to use/not use). There is information about replacing broken tuner knobs. But I don't see any advice on how to maintain tuner knobs to delay the day when they may need to replaced.

The knobs in question for me are plastic of some sort, on a 49 year old Goya nylon string guitar. I suppose I should be thinking also about maintaing similar knobs on a less "ancient" mandolin. Is there some sort of lubricant that should be used occasionally on non-metal tuner knobs?

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: Leadfingers
Date: 18 Aug 15 - 07:02 PM

If the plastic is broken , I fear all you can do is replace the entire strip of tuners - Assuming that they are 'Three a side'

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: Stanron
Date: 18 Aug 15 - 07:27 PM

Hi Leadfingers.

Tuners are not always dead if the plastic button dies. this page

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: Stanron
Date: 18 Aug 15 - 07:31 PM

dammit I pressed the wrong button.

This link

tuner repair

shows how.
Follow the link at the bottom of the page for more repair stuff and maintenance of guitars and other instruments.

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 18 Aug 15 - 10:24 PM

Thanks, Stanron, for the link. For those who read this thread, and the OPer, remember a simple URL: frets.com   ALL fretted instrument repairs, painstakingly documented and clearly illustrated. Ford is a huge blessing to anyone curious about repairs from fret buzz to neck resets. He tells it straight up!
keep on pickin'
dennis

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 02:13 AM

Yep, frets.com is the bible and what Frank doesn't know isn't worth bothering about.
Another good resource is Bryan Kimsey's 'Lutherie' pages on his website -

Bryan Kimsey - Lutherie

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 10:16 AM

I love mudcat. Kimsey's stuff, like Frank Ford's, is well photographed and liberally sprinkled with tips. Both luthiers care enough to share, like the 'catters here~thanks for the link.
keep on pickin'
dennis

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 12:13 PM

There's good information on that page that Stanron linked (tuner repair), but you won't catch ME holding a button in one hand and pointing a spinning electric drill at it with the other hand.

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 12:32 PM

Hold the button in a vice, Leeneia! 👍😎

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: Felipa
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 04:41 PM

the buttons/knobs on my instruments are NOT broken; I want to delay the day that one or more of them break. I explained that already: "There is information about replacing broken tuner knobs. But I don't see any advice on how to maintain tuner knobs to delay the day when they may need to replaced." So any advice? Should they be lubricated or coated with anything?

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: Felipa
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 04:51 PM

although I don't see the answer to my query there, the Frets website is very comprehensive and fascinating

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: Stanron
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 05:08 PM

Lubrication with light oil or grease should be sufficient. Grease is less likely to spread away from the machinery to the wood than oil. If the machines are old to very old, careful dismantling, cleaning and reassembling with lubrication should do the trick.

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: Felipa
Date: 20 Aug 15 - 04:50 AM

stanron, did you get that I'm talking about knobs not gears themselves? I'm not sure as you talk of dismantling? Re the gears, a lot of people are recommending triflo lubricant as being non-greasy, doesnt attack dirt; local bike shop where I am has we-40 which I suppose is similar. but I dont know if that would help preserve the plastic knobs. Maybe, as it would coat them, doesnt evaporate away as oils do.

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 Aug 15 - 04:57 AM

Triflow is bad news for tuners.
A little dab of Vaseline on a toothpick, at the point where the worm and cog meet, does the trick.

Why would you want to "lubricate" a tuner button? You lubricate parts which rub together in order to remove friction and reduce friction-induced wear. There's no such thing with a tuner button - it's neither rubbing nor wearing.

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: Stanron
Date: 20 Aug 15 - 05:02 AM

Lubricating, and cleaning and lubricating, moving parts reduces stress on the buttons. If, over time, they denature, decay and fall off then my first post becomes relevant again.

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 20 Aug 15 - 09:03 AM

Precisely, Stanron.

Subject: RE: Tech: tuner knob maintenance
From: Stanron
Date: 20 Aug 15 - 09:54 AM

Oh, and I've not said this yet, I can't see any advantage or disadvantage in putting any lubricant on plastic buttons. Plastics can give off some kind of stuff (gas?) and over time this can make them hard and brittle. Maybe a coat of varnish will retard this process but I doubt if lubricant would. I've never seen varnished tuner buttons but maybe some one else has.