How much is overtightening the nut?

ThomasBJ · #1 03-15-2005, 04:56 PM

Hi! I am having some trouble with the tuning stability on my vwh and therefore looked at Rich's site. I then tried to tighten the nut and it felt like it wasn't really that tight. But how tight should it app. be? I don't want to ruin the neck by overtightening the nut...
Please help me on this.
When I tightened the nut I first loosened it and then tried to make it just tight without using all my strength (I tried the finger thing!).
So what I actually want to know is: How much is overtightening the nut?
Please please please help me. I love this neck - it's the best I've ever played. Better than my s 540 and my Gibson Nighthawk.
Thomas

Rich · #2 03-15-2005, 05:03 PM

Torque is almost impossible to describe. Tight enough to keep it from moving.

With it locked, pull up on the bar, see that the nut is seated flush against the end of the fretboard. Drop the bar to the pickguard while watching the nut. If it moves it's not holding in place. It still may be as tight as you'd want to tighten it without fear of cracking it in which case you'd want to shim the back side of the hole. But, without getting too far ahead, if it doesn't move, it's tight enough.

ThomasBJ · #3 03-15-2005, 05:25 PM

OK. The nut seems to sit tight and I hope I haven't tightened the screws too much. I mean they should be TIGHT, right? like when it stops naturally when using the index finger on the end of the wrench (a small one like the ones that comes with the gutar), or am I wrong on this?

Rich · #4 03-15-2005, 05:30 PM

I it "stopped" my guess is you have no compression washer. I'd pull the bolts and make sure.

ThomasBJ · #5 03-15-2005, 05:35 PM

But if I want to I could make it tighter (which of course I don't want to cause I'm afraid of cracking the neck) I can see a washer behind the screws. The compression washer is that the flat one?

Rich · #6 03-15-2005, 05:40 PM

A compression washer compresses!! The flat washer keeps it from pressing into the wood.

ThomasBJ · #7 03-15-2005, 05:46 PM

Sorry... I'm from Denmark... So basically it should be alright with the approximately amount of torque i've given it? I just can't imagine that it should be less tight than it is now... I mean to keep the nut in place the screws needs to be a little tight i guess.
Hope I'm making any sense. Oh and by the way thank you for helping me Rich!

Rich · #8 03-15-2005, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

I'd pull the bolts and make sure.

No matter where you're from, it would be advised to follow directions

ThomasBJ · #9 03-15-2005, 05:54 PM

LOL! The washers are in there! And then just tightening it with the index finger until I feel that I will have to use force to tighten them further should be enough and not too much right? (Approximately. I know that you can't actually feel how much I'm tightening them).
BTW I meant i didn't UNDERSTAND the washer thing beacause I'm from Denmark. LOL

Rich · #10 03-15-2005, 05:56 PM

Well, I definately use some force, how much is what won't traslate even into english well. The whole point is, if the nut aint movin, it's tight enough.

ThomasBJ · #11 03-15-2005, 05:58 PM

OK. I think then maybe i can tighten them a little more. Thx Rich

ThomasBJ · #12 03-19-2005, 03:18 PM

Now I know what my tuning stability problem is... It's the nut walking back and forth as I pull or push the whammy bar... Damn... It seems that I can't tighten it enough to keep it's place (or I don't have the guts to try to tighten it more than I have).
When I look at the place where the nut is it seems to sit a little bit over the headstock paint as if it sits a bit to high on the neck. Is this normal or could this be my problem? Also there is a tiny spot between the fretboard and the nut, but when I tried to tighten the nut I pushed it all the way down to the fretboard and on my first divebomb on the whammy bar... it went a tiny bit away from the fretboard...
What do I do? Please help me...

Rich · #13 03-19-2005, 03:24 PM

Measure the depth of the wood itself in the hole [washer face to nut back, that part of the hole]. Cut a .1mm shim to that [or smaller] Wrap the shim around the screw untill it's doubled for 1/2 revolution. Put it in the hole with the doubled shim at the headstock end. Put it back together and test it.