Help! My Bender only goes barely a half step

Hi Gang! My 1st post please be gentle.....seriously, need some help from experienced B-Benders here. I just acquired this:

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii126/richey888/TeleI.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii126/richey888/TeleB-Bemder.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii126/richey888/TeleIV.jpg

(please excuse the crummy pics)

Anyhoo, she's a 97 USA if I'm reading the s/n right (N 7xxxxxxxxx), got some battle scars, but the neck is straight, frets have about 85% life left, Fender noisless pickups (prolly not for long). The bender however, barely gives me a half step with the #/b wheel all the way to the #, way less (so much ya barely notice) with the wheel all the way towards the flat symbol. What gives? I would think I should have at least a whole step of bend right?

Any suggestions/advice is appreciated. Richey

You might want to remove the bender from the guitar by just removing the B string, removing the screws on the outside edge of the bender plate (11 screws) and pull the bender off the guitar. Then check to make sure that the middle brass block moves up and down when the thumb wheel screw is turned in both directions. The bottom brass block is fixed to the plate as is the top one. It should be easy to see if there is a problem if that middle block doesn't move. Bottom unit in the picture is a Fender, top is a Hipshot. They work the same way. Let us know what you find.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b69/Dogbear/IMG_0698r2.jpg

Cool thanks......Nice pix, much appreciated!

Yes...take it apart and your problem should become obvious. DO NOT REMOVE THE MIDDLE SCREWS LIKE I DID! The damn guitar exploded on me when I took out the screw that holds the spring in place. It was such a mess that I put the guitar away for 8 years before I got it out to deal with it. Stretching that spring back into place is a *****.

You are aware that the thumb knob on the back of the bender unit adjust how far the bender bends. Turn it one way it goes sharper, turn it the other way it goes flatter. If you haven't tried this yet, I wouldn't remove the bender cover. I apologize if you already knew this, but this could be the easiest solution.


NEVERMIND, I SHOULD HAVE READ YOUR ENTIRE POST BEFORE I COMMENTED. I did not know you had already tried the #/b wheel.

Here's the go-to page (http://stringbender.com/bender/fbbtec.php) for problems with that Parsons/Green bender.