Ball Joint Blowout

[Lee Baucum]

With regard to the ball joint connector, where the pedal rod connects to the pedal, I'm wondering who all has actually broken one. I've seen a few old posts from members who have had that happen. It seems like the likelihood of it happening is quite low.

It does concern me...a little bit; however, lots of things concern me.

When we play at an event, I take an extra amp (Cube 80XL), extra cables, extra tuners, extra batteries, extra volume pedal, extra bar, extra strings, extra picks, extra shirt (ever since the bbq sauce incident).

The guitar will have fresh strings, because of my worries about breaking one.

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Now, I have contacted both Williams and BMI to order fresh, new ball joint connectors for both of my guitars.

Once those are replaced on both guitars, it will be time to start looking for something else to worry about.

My OCD is already on the search for a new worry!

[Ricky Davis]

Yes when you cut threads into a piece of metal; it immediately makes that piece of metal weaker than already was.
So don't tighten it so tight or if it screws in too easy but has some threads on other side of pedal stickin out...put a nut on that;
because that threaded part is dangerously weak...and will break fairly easy.
Ricky

[John Hyland]

Is there a thought on which is more strong. An in-line ball joint or the more common 90 deg version

[Dennis Detweiler]

I split two of them over the years with the in-line ball joint on my Zum. I still have the original 90 degree ball joints on my MSA guitars (1975 & 1976). I trust the 90 degrees.

[Larry Jamieson]

I had an older BMI that I bought used years ago. It played good and sounded sweet but during a gig, the ball joint broke on the A pedal. I replaced it with the rod from the C pedal and finished the gig. There was a lot of wear on the undercarriage so I sold it and got a newer steel.

[Bobby D. Jones]

On most pedal rod connectors, The ball section usually has a hex for wrench, And a flat ring surface, That needs to be tight against the pedal, For support. If not the ball may break off at the threads.
I have seen 1 that the ball pulled through the bottom of the ball socket on pedal rod part.
The bad part with those type of rod connectors is the ball and socket needs lube, Because of the pressure the ball joint need grease for a lube. But then when cased, The leg/rod bag and the pedal bar section of the case would get messed up with grease.
So the joint does not get much lube, Because of mess it can cause.
I found bees wax was a good lube with no mess, On the MSA guitar I gigged, Never showed any wear on any the sockets or balls.

[Jerry Overstreet]

I have always heard that the inline style broke more ball studs and pedal connectors. Maybe due to the angle.

I played a Williams inline for a while and a ZumSteel for several years. I kept a couple of ea. extra just in case, but never had either break any parts.

I have seen a bit of wear around or just behind the ball or on the sockets, but never broken either part on any of the guitars I've played over nearly 50 yrs. I never paid much attention to lubrication on them either, just whenever I thought about it or was lubing the whole thing, I'd put a drop of Super Oil on the stud ball or the connector... very light lube.

[Lee Baucum]

Well, my BMI now as three brand new ball joint connectors. I'll be installing new ones on my Williams tomorrow evening.

Time to start looking for something else to worry about...

[Bill Fisher]

Lee, time to start taking piano lessons.

Bill.