They CAN get very stiff. I suspect oxidation plays into that. Or the OEM lube that has hardened. And they can be stiff enough that you can twist off the button.
Lubrication is not going to cause worm gear tuners to slip. Lubrication will make the tuners turn more smoothly, reducing "stiction," the phenomenon where friction allows tension to build up and then suddenly release.
I have one acoustic with open gears. I grease those, too, and just wipe off the excess.
I'm a cyclist and keep Parktools HPG-1 grease around all the time. So that's what I use. It's a waterproof grease that's formulated not to dry out - - at least, not anytime soon. Any grease suitable for bearings should be fine, but if it's too thick, it will be hard to push through an applicator with a small opening, such as a syringe. HPG-1 flows pretty easily.
So do you use graphite powder or some kind of oil? I have stuff I use on guns, and also Triflow (with teflon). And does it harm the nitro?
I use the grease mentioned above. It's a light green grease, and only a tiny bit is needed on the worm gear. After I spin the tuners a bit, I just lift the excess off with a swab. Everything stays shiny, no unsightly globs of anything, and it stays put, which is what in my opinion makes it a better solution than light oil or graphite. I can't tell you whether it's safe on nitro, but if you apply only a tiny bit and wipe off any excess, I can't see where there's much potential (if any) for harm.
Found it @ Amazon. Thanks! I have a half dozen guitars with open gear tuners and this should be a good idea.
Ain't goin' there . . . .
Thanks. Looks like a tube of that is about $16. Wondering if basic white lithium grease is a good option. That goes for about $6 a tube. I use it on seat posts and miscellaneous bolts on bicycles.
