F#-G Knee lever problem

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Gabriel Stutz
Posts: 383
Joined: 18 May 2006 12:01 am
Location: Chicago, USA

F#-G Knee lever problem

Post by Gabriel Stutz »

Hello,

I'm having a problem with a knee lever raises that I've never encountered before. When engaging my low F#>G lever raise (the only other pull on this is the high F#>G) it intermittently comes up noticably sharp, but not all the time. Actually, it's almost alternating every other time. Like I said, I've never encountered this before. It's definitely not overturned, but I haven't had much chance to look underneath, but I thought i you guys might help get me started. Thanks.
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Dale Rottacker
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Joined: 3 Aug 2010 6:49 pm
Location: Walla Walla Washington, USA

Re: F#-G Knee lever problem

Post by Dale Rottacker »

I might check to see if the bell crank is tight on the cross-shaft. I had that happen years ago, and it was a head scratcher till I "accidentally" found while looking at something else under the guitar. At least that was an easy fix, and I hope your's is too.
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Earnest Bovine
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Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Los Angeles CA USA

Re: F#-G Knee lever problem

Post by Earnest Bovine »

Maybe your lower-return spring is not tight enough. Check to be sure that the lower bar does not sometimes move when you raise F# to G.
Gabriel Stutz
Posts: 383
Joined: 18 May 2006 12:01 am
Location: Chicago, USA

Re: F#-G Knee lever problem

Post by Gabriel Stutz »

Thanks - I will finally have a chance to look at it tomorrow. I will definitely check these things. I wouldn't be surprised if something was loose, I've been slowly tracking down loose screws, etc. that I hadn't checked in too long a time... I hadn't thought about the return springs, so I'll check those, too. Thanks!
Bobby D. Jones
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Joined: 17 May 2010 9:27 am
Location: West Virginia, USA

Re: F#-G Knee lever problem

Post by Bobby D. Jones »

Also another thing to check, A broken string ball caught in the changer can cause many problems too.
Edit. If guitar has brass ferrules in bell cranks, To lock pull rod. Check the set screw in the ferrule.
Good Luck finding the problem. Happy Steelin.
Gabriel Stutz
Posts: 383
Joined: 18 May 2006 12:01 am
Location: Chicago, USA

Re: F#-G Knee lever problem

Post by Gabriel Stutz »

Thanks - I made a quick check tonight when I had a minute - it appeared to be the return spring being to loose. The finger was pulling away a bit in the raise. I tightened it and it stopped, so hopefully that's it..I didn't have a chance to check the results yet but I'll find out at the gig tomorrow.... I appreciate all the suggestions.
John Hyland
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Location: South Australia

Re: F#-G Knee lever problem

Post by John Hyland »

I don’t understand how the return spring would fix the issue described. A loose spring would cause the tuning to be lower than it should be. Also it would normally be a consistent error. But if it has solved the issue I stand corrected.
Gabriel Stutz
Posts: 383
Joined: 18 May 2006 12:01 am
Location: Chicago, USA

Re: F#-G Knee lever problem

Post by Gabriel Stutz »

I think it probably was lowering, because I had to back off the tuning nut after I tightened the return screw. I guess the "in tune" raise was actually not going all the way up (or was simultaneously lowering a bit) and the "sharp" note was actually correct, as once the lower return was staying in place, my raise was consistent sharp until I loosened the nylon tuner.