Bent Kluson tuner shaft

[Boreas]

I am refurbishing a set of vintage Kluson tuners. May install them on my 50s Martin. I don't care for the retro tuners I bought for it or the nice replacement butterbean Gotohs it came with. Prefer something period correct. Anyway, one has a bent shaft. It works as well as the others (12:1 ratio) but would like to straighten it. Sticking it in a vice and pooshing down on the button has done nothing, and I don't want to break off the button. I also don't care to dismantle it because getting the "rivets" tight again is usually fraught with frustration and profanity. Any go-to methods for straightening this?? It doesn't HAVE to be straightened, but you know how it is.

 

[Freeman Keller]

The six on a plate Klusons on my Martin 12 string have two bent shafts like that. I'm scared to try to straighten them, they still work fine so I leave them alone

 

[Boreas]

The six on a plate Klusons on my Martin 12 string have two bent shafts like that. I'm scared to try to straighten them, they still work fine so I leave them alone

I guess I shouldn't be so anal about it. Are you OK with the 12:1 ratio? I don't know where these came from - may have been an old Silvertone. Can't remember if I liked the ratio.

 

[Freeman Keller]

12:1 works fine for me. Try 1:1 ukulele friction tuners sometime, you'll appreciate any gear ratio LOL.

My policy with old guitars is to replace the tuners if needed with something that is more or less vintage correct and requires the minimum drilling and filling. That might mean using the old bushings or getting some of the replacement bushings, but I try not to have to drill or ream. I will keep the original tuners in a baggie in the case for a future owner that might want it "original", for me function is more important. As an example, my 74 D-18 has modern Gotoh open gear tuners that look "correct" and function well.

The 12 string has funky 6 on a plate Kluson's with the little ribbed boxes, two have bent shafts but they work fine.

 

[ChicknPickn]

I'd leave it as-is, refer to it as "character."

 

[Engraver-60]

I have straightened a couple of old 1968 Martin 12-string tuners with a smooth jaw pair of Bernard parallel jaw pliers (jewelry related). I really had no choice, except to try.

 

[Boreas]

I have straightened a couple of old 1968 Martin 12-string tuners with a smooth jaw pair of Bernard parallel jaw pliers (jewelry related). I really had no choice, except to try.

What was the procedure you used?

 

[Engraver-60]

What was the procedure you used?

Parallel jaw pliers can straighten items by just squeezing them at the bend. I have several pairs (even a pair that was my grandfather's). The picture is stock image, but Grandpa's are identical.

These are newer versions that I have from my life as a jeweler.

Flat Parallel Jaw Pliers - Smooth Jaws | Gesswein

Jaws open to 7/16" (11mm). Available in smooth jaw or serrated jaw styles. Serrated version has a single longitudinal V-slot. Wire can be fed through the plier throat from either end. Both measure 5" overall length. Parallel Jaw Pliers are also available in Chain-Nose.

www.gesswein.com

 

[Dennyf]

"Bent Kluson" would be a great name for a new country singer.

 

[Ricky D.]

Bent steel is hard to straighten without a torch. Steel work hardens when it bends, so when you try to bend it back straight it bends everywhere except where you want it to.

If you can’t disassemble the tuner to isolate the bent shaft, I think you are done with it, replace the whole tuner or live with it as is.

 

[Boreas]

Bent steel is hard to straighten without a torch. Steel work hardens when it bends, so when you try to bend it back straight it bends everywhere except where you want it to.

If you can’t disassemble the tuner to isolate the bent shaft, I think you are done with it, replace the whole tuner or live with it as is.

You are right - although they bend easy enough when a guitar tips over!! Maybe I should try to re-create the disaster.

 

[Boreas]

Parallel jaw pliers can straighten items by just squeezing them at the bend. I have several pairs (even a pair that was my grandfather's). The picture is stock image, but Grandpa's are identical.

View attachment 972428

These are newer versions that I have from my life as a jeweler.

Flat Parallel Jaw Pliers - Smooth Jaws | Gesswein

Jaws open to 7/16" (11mm). Available in smooth jaw or serrated jaw styles. Serrated version has a single longitudinal V-slot. Wire can be fed through the plier throat from either end. Both measure 5" overall length. Parallel Jaw Pliers are also available in Chain-Nose.

www.gesswein.com

I had some plastic-tipped ones I used as an optometrist, but never had steel ones. Unfortunately, the bend on mine is not in the center of the shaft so the pliers may not work. The knobs appear to be plated pot metal (flaking) so I am reluctant to use heat. I may visit a jeweler and see if they want to tackle it. Thanks.

 

[Ricky D.]

You are right - although they bend easy enough when a guitar tips over!! Maybe I should try to re-create the disaster.

Put a kink in a wire coat hanger and try to straighten it. The first bend is easy.

 

[Boreas]

Sorry to bump this thread, but I decided to try to find a vintage replcement. Not as simple as it sounds. There doesn't seem to be many out there for sale with the 50s metal button. Like NONE! Anybody know of a source for one treble-side tuner? Struck out with eBay, Reverb, and general Google search. I can find closed-back Klusons, but sopposedly they have a different footprint. Since the footprint is dug in, I would like to match it.

 

[schmee]

How bad do you want it straight? Maybe even a hardwood rod?

 

[Peegoo]

@Boreas

PM sent!

 

[Boreas]

How bad do you want it straight? Maybe even a hardwood rod?
View attachment 1244735

I don't mind it being bent, but it is also difficult to turn. I'll have to take another look at it, but I am thinking the bend goes THROUGH the post all the way to the worm. Honestly, I haven't tried bending it with significant force because I was afraid of loosening the post that holds it. It just has those rinky-dink peened-over ends. @Peegoo offered a suggestion as well along the same lines. Next rainy day I'll take a closer look at it and break out the BFH.

 

[schmee]

I don't mind it being bent, but it is also difficult to turn. I'll have to take another look at it, but I am thinking the bend goes THROUGH the post all the way to the worm. Honestly, I haven't tried bending it with significant force because I was afraid of loosening the post that holds it. It just has those rinky-dink peened-over ends. @Peegoo offered a suggestion as well along the same lines. Next rainy day I'll take a closer look at it and break out the BFH.

View attachment 1244763

I too worry about just free form bending it. Which is why I'm thinking support it solidly between the gear and the bend. I doubt it would be bent in the worm gear so the "difficult to turn" is likely just a tiny amount of bend of the shaft inside that Support Tab which is either side of the worm gear. Free form bending it could deform that tab a bit, which are often kinda loose anyway.

One could easily make a "channel shape" piece of hardwood like oak and not have to do the angle iron I showed.

 

[Boreas]

I too worry about just free form bending it. Which is why I'm thinking support it solidly between the gear and the bend. I doubt it would be bent in the worm gear so the "difficult to turn" is likely just a tiny amount of bend of the shaft inside that Support Tab which is either side of the worm gear. Free form bending it could deform that tab a bit, which are often kinda loose anyway.

One could easily make a "channel shape" piece of hardwood like oak and not have to do the angle iron I showed.
View attachment 1244767

I agree - methinks if I can support it properly it should minimize risk.