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ritchiet - Posted - 03/10/2025: 12:31:17
Hi,
I have an old Clifford Essex banjo with the Grover Patent friction tuners that have springs inside. They arent working well, even with the nylon strings I use, really have to tighten too much to get them to hold tension. I think it may be the springs as they seem pretty solid to me, do springs lose their bounce after 100 years? Any ideas if there is anything I can do to get them to work better? I would hate to swap them out for modern but I need working tuners. Thanks
Joel Hooks - Posted - 03/10/2025: 13:04:33
I believe the Professional came with these tuners.
Take them off, use a Scotchbrite pad to scuff any bearing surface, and where the pegs contact the peghead. Reassemble. You might need to shorten the screw if it is bottoming out.
What strings are you using? Most banjo string sets (Nylgut are polyester) sold today are much thicker and higher tension than what was used with these banjos. Labella 17 or lighter are period correct. The New CE banjo strings are very heavy, even the "lights".
Don't use any kind of rosin or sticky stuff.
You can also add a leather washer between the plastic button and the metal peg.
Try deglazing the surfaces first. I doubt the spring has lost its ability to be stiff.
ritchiet - Posted - 03/10/2025: 13:51:15
Thanks Joel, I will try that - yes it is a professional.
trapdoor2 - Posted - 03/10/2025: 18:47:17
quote:
Originally posted by Joel Hooks
What strings are you using? Most banjo string sets (Nylgut are polyester) sold today are much thicker and higher tension than what was used with these banjos. Labella 17 or lighter are period correct. The New CE banjo strings are very heavy, even the "lights".
And they're my favorites. 
Spot on with the scotchbrite treatment & screw shortening. I had to do exactly that on my CE Special.
calicoplayer - Posted - 03/11/2025: 05:28:28
If you ultimately decide to go with modern tuners, try the Rickard tuners. IMHO they're the best I've ever used: smooth, precise and amazingly stable. 10:1 ratio. They look exactly the same as any other modern tuner, but functionally a world apart from others. Expensive, but well worth the cost.
Joel Hooks - Posted - 03/11/2025: 06:45:15
quote:
Originally posted by trapdoor2
quote:
Originally posted by Joel Hooks
What strings are you using? Most banjo string sets (Nylgut are polyester) sold today are much thicker and higher tension than what was used with these banjos. Labella 17 or lighter are period correct. The New CE banjo strings are very heavy, even the "lights".
And they're my favorites.
Spot on with the scotchbrite treatment & screw shortening. I had to do exactly that on my CE Special.
Yes, my info on strings is just that. Sometimes the heavier strings are too much for friction pegs that have been polished with age and use. But the spring pressure Grovers should be able to handle the thickest strings.
Joel Hooks - Posted - 03/11/2025: 06:46:42
quote:
Originally posted by calicoplayer
If you ultimately decide to go with modern tuners, try the Rickard tuners. IMHO they're the best I've ever used: smooth, precise and amazingly stable. 10:1 ratio. They look exactly the same as any other modern tuner, but functionally a world apart from others. Expensive, but well worth the cost.
Please no! If the OP does not like the friction pegs, they should sell the banjo and buy a modern one. There are people who would like to have a CE Professional with the original pegs.
mikehalloran - Posted - 03/15/2025: 13:26:54
Although I have no great love for friction tuners, I would never recommend a $200 set of 10:1 Rickard as a replacement to someone using non-metal strings—like recommending a tourniquet when all one needs is a bandaid.
A set of 4:1 anything will do quite nicely at 1/3 the price. In this case, however, I agree with Joel. People who know these banjos normally prefer the spring-loaded Grovers. Ukulele collectors seek those tuners out, also.
ritchiet - Posted - 04/09/2025: 12:43:06
Thanks gain , the Scotchbrite treatment worked ! Only I wasnt sure what to do with the 5th string peg, di I have to take it out somehow???
mikehalloran - Posted - 04/10/2025: 14:44:14
quote:
Originally posted by ritchiet
Thanks gain , the Scotchbrite treatment worked ! Only I wasnt sure what to do with the 5th string peg, di I have to take it out somehow???
Most 5th string friction pegs have two points of contact. One is where the metal collar makes contact with the ferrule that's driven into the wood. Remove the knob and the collar to expose this surface and jury-rig a way to scuff it up (steel wool pushed around the shaft with a thin screwdriver?) The other contact is at the opposite end of the ferrule where it contacts the back of the shaft—to access that, the tuner must be removed from the neck, scuffed up and pressed back in.
