After tapping out trem claw screw holes my Edge 3 wont pivot.

[CaptainD00M]

As the title suggests i tapped out the screw holes in my RG 320ex with some dowel as about 4 months ago i had installed a Tremol-no ad accidentally stripped the screw holes out that held in the trem claw screws.

I took the cheapskate option and filled them holes with tooth picks, but after a 30hr travel to the UK, my new abode, i thought id do a proper job and drill the holes out, put new wood in, then re-drill a pilot hole, then screw in the claw.

This all went fine till i came to re-stringing, and for no apparent reason when i try to get up top full pitch the strings dont pull the trem out of the body like they should. instead the trem spring KEEP the bridge in the body and all i get are twangy strings wrapped over my Pickups.

Ive tried to do everything i know how to fix it but cant think of a thing, i thought maybe the neck was misaligned after i removed it etc... but no. Im going to attempt to upload some picks because that will make it easier to figure out what im going on about...

I know its an epic post but i only have one guitar in the same county at the moment and not being able to play is turning me into a bundle of nerves.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...s/DSC_0039.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...s/DSC_0038.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...s/DSC_0040.jpg
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...s/DSC_0041.jpg

crap picks i know i only have a 2megpix cam.
Hope they help with this conundrum

[newbieguitarmaker]

are you sure the trem is sitting on its studs correctly? I had the same problem when I took off my trem to adjust a squeaky bar. When I put it back on my trem just stayed all the way down even if I tuned the strings

[CaptainD00M]

I did think that might be the case, but to confuse matters i can put the bar in the slot and i can dive with it.
Ive messed around with that thing so many times im running out of ideas... That and after reattaching the springs my pliers slid off and scratched th paint... no big deal as i dont think im ever planning on selling it but its a bit disheartening.

[rvai]

have you tried diving with the bar and tune while holding the trem parallel to the body with the bar? I had the same problem once and that solved it

[jb4674]

That trem is not sitting on its studs correctly, look at the picture:



Jimmy

[newbieguitarmaker]

yeah from everything your saying I'm still pretty sure its how it is sitting, Jimmy agrees too ^^^

[albee1952]

Back out the claw screws? The way I like to set these things up is to cut a small block of wood that fits under the back part of the trem(under the fine tuners) so that the trem sits level. Then I string up the guitar, stretch the strings out some and retune. Now lock the nut, remove the block(push the trem bar down so you can retrieve the block). When you release the bar, the bridge will likely go sharp. Back out the claw screws(evenly) until the guitar is close to in-tune(locking the nut usually pulls some strings out a bit). Fine tune and go.