Replacement of your trem arm - "tutorial" with pictures - Page 2

Azrael · #16 02-22-2005, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azrael

Can't get it out with a screwdriver.....dammit.....any tricks? It's already deformed on top...

Just got out....

edit: It's on now.....seems to works fine although rotating the tremolo arm isn't as smooth as with a normal bar with good bushings. Maybe some lube will cure that while not getting very loose.

john1880 · #17 02-22-2005, 05:42 PM

A little tiny bit of silicone based grease or something like that should help. If not, check the top of the bushing. if it's not smooth for some reason, take some fine sandpaper and smooth it out. keep us posted.

pete944 · #18 02-22-2005, 09:16 PM

Don't tighten the nut on the arm too tight. Just get it as tight as you can with your fingers. If you crank it down it will deform the little metal washer between the nut and the pin in the arm and the arm won't rotate smoothly. Ask me how I know...

john1880 · #19 02-22-2005, 09:25 PM

good suggestion pete. were you able to replace the little washer when you bent it? :-)

pete944 · #20 02-22-2005, 10:50 PM

Nope. I had to get a new arm. I'm looking for some small washers that will fit in there.
Actually what would work great would be to replace the metal washer with a nylon one and then remove the pin and replace it with a c-clip. I'm going to try it as soon as I can find the washers and a clip small enough. I can cut a groove for the c-clip with a dremel.
I have the old arm to experiment on.

Here's quick sketch of what I'm thinking:

john1880 · #21 02-22-2005, 11:43 PM

cool diagram! do you happen to be a machinist or mechanical engineer?
hey, wouldn't the bottom nylon washer fall off? maybe i'm not looking at it right.
i agree with the nylon washer idea. i have thought about doing the same to one of mine, but i never got around to it.
how about another type of pin? i see some of mine have a flat spot on the pin now. but you don't want anything too hard because it's better the pin wear out than the bushing. the c-clip seems like a good idea.

y'know what? i think there IS a nylon washer above the metal washer. i was just looking and there are 2 washers. the other looks like a nylon one.

pete944 · #22 02-23-2005, 12:01 AM

Mine has 2 metal washers. I just took it all apart. You can pull the pin out with a pair of wirecutters and then the washers will come out.

The lower nylon washer would be sandwiched between the c-clip and the threaded part in the bridge. That will let it move smoothly. All the friction surfaces will ride on the nylon washers.
The pin is just a bad idea. It only has those 2 small surfaces for the washer to ride on. The c-clip would give more surface area for the nylon. I think it would take years to wear out the nylon washers.
The nut will have to be drilled and tapped for a set screw. That way you can tighten the nut just enough and then lock it with the set screw. It won't loosen when you move the arm. I think a Stratocaster saddle screw would work perfectly.

Nah, I'm no engineer but I'm good at fixing things.

Azrael · #23 02-23-2005, 07:43 AM

I think just some locktide on the nutscrew is all that it takes to keep the screw from loosening. Don't really think a set-screw is needed for that.

Azrael · #24 02-23-2005, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john1880

A little tiny bit of silicone based grease or something like that should help. If not, check the top of the bushing. if it's not smooth for some reason, take some fine sandpaper and smooth it out. keep us posted.

Yup. Just put some chapstick one it (works for everything

) and it's very smooth now. Good replacement! Now I gotta get my "backstop" working with double stop bends and I'll be extreemly happy.

I'd say removing the arm is the best and easiest thing after the chapstick fix , to do for your tremolo.

john1880 · #25 02-24-2005, 02:32 AM

Azrael. Are you using a Ibanez backstop or a Hipshot tremsetter? I use the hipshot tremsetter, I have a d-tuna installed on the low E, and I can do drop D tunings in 2 seconds.
The downside is I don't have that bounce anymore because of the tremsetter. But I can live without it.

john1880 · #26 02-24-2005, 02:42 AM

I don't really have a problem with the nutscrew coming loose. It seems to stay in place on all my guitars. Do you guys have a problem with it loosening up? I had one arm that would come loose and the washer inside was bent.
There is a type of locktite that's designed to just make threads a little tighter. That's a good idea Azrael. Just don't use the permanent bonding stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-o

Azrael · #27 02-24-2005, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john1880

I don't really have a problem with the nutscrew coming loose. It seems to stay in place on all my guitars. Do you guys have a problem with it loosening up? I had one arm that would come loose and the washer inside was bent.
There is a type of locktite that's designed to just make threads a little tighter. That's a good idea Azrael. Just don't use the permanent bonding stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-o

Puting chapstick on it also seems to work fine. It does not come loose even after alot of use. Just put it on the wire and you'll be fine....
The chapstick also works really great when you put it on the bar-end. No more sound and a very smooth feeling while still being tight enough to remain in one place and not fall down.

john1880 · #28 02-24-2005, 11:41 AM

I put some on last night. Yeah, it smooths it out nicely.

Azrael · #29 02-24-2005, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john1880

I put some on last night. Yeah, it smooths it out nicely.

Yup , easy fix.

Azrael · #30 03-07-2005, 04:26 PM

Just a small question. If you pull your arm out with the Ibanez design the trem still looks decent. But if I do this with the schaller arm it leaves the sticking out steelwire out. I don't really like how this looks. Do there exist covers or something else to not make it look like a sticking out gaping hole?