Gotoh tuning machine mounting screw snaps - tragedy?

apson

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I was mounting a set of gotoh vintage tuning machines (purchased from warmoth) onto a brand new warmoth neck - arrived today via UPS, in fact.  The second mounting screw gets just in past the threads and snaps off!  Worst of all, there's virtually nothing to grab onto.  Immediately, every screw extraction gizmo infomercial flashes through my mind as I realize there is possibly no way to extract this screw without destroying this nicely tapped hole.  Welding rod and a welder?  I'm out of ideas.  Has anyone ever had this happen?  I'm guessing the screw was defective...I should've inspected them.  Any advice on tiny screw extraction out of maple would be much appreciated.  Aesthetically, I have some wiggle room as it will be hidden behind the base of the tuning machine.

Just found this http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=519.0 - I didn't realize soap was necessary...though I still say this screw was defective.
 
I'm sure the other guys may come up with a better solution, but if you put just a tiny drop of J-B weld on the broken section and put the top part of the screw back on and let it set for 24hrs, it might hold enough for you to screw it out.  And by tiny drop I mean not enough to were it would ooze out into the wood.  As long as the screw didn't twist when it broke that might work.  I wouldn't risk catching my new neck on fire with a welder though. :icon_smile:

Get you a regular "emergency candle" and rub the rest of your screws on it.  Don't load the screw up with it, just enough to lube it up so it goes in easier.
 
I just ordered a couple of these unscrew-ums...  The jb-weld would probably stick to the wood...it was more of a twist and less of a snap. 

Caution - on the unscrew-ums website when you go to "check out" you can see the billing information of the last person who placed an order.  Beware.  Oddly enough, in their order comments they mentioned "I'm the guy who called with a screw stuck in his guitar." -  :eek:  Poor guy...I really feel his pain.
 
Two important details regarding tuner installation and screws:

1. Drill pilot holes.
2. Soap the screws.

Tuner screws (regardless of vendor) are fairly small and cannot handle tremendous amounts of force.  The screws themselves do not handle a major load when the neck is strung up.  They just keep the tuner from rotating freely.
 
If by chance there's any of the screw sticking above the surface at all, you can use a pair of these gate cutters. They are like wire cutters but they are made for cutting the gate flush on plastic parts. The sharp edges of these works great for grabbing broken off screws, I use them in the shop at work all the time. Just be sure to be gentle, just use a little pressure and if you can get a good enough bite it'll come right out...
P4-3.jpg
 
this has been covered before.

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=519.0


read down to =CB='s post

seems to always be those kluson style tuners.

Brian
 
bpmorton777 said:
this has been covered before.

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=519.0


read down to =CB='s post

seems to always be those kluson style tuners.

Brian
With all do respect to CB, that's not the "only" way to get them out....That's most likely the fastest way, but not the only way... :icon_biggrin:
 
Yeah - I linked that from my original post.  I'll report on my experience with unscrew-ums® when they arrive.

bpmorton777 said:
this has been covered before.

http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=519.0


read down to =CB='s post

seems to always be those kluson style tuners.

Brian
 
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