Hi! Recently my Deering Openback's third string tuner popped off. When this occurred, the small gears within scattered. I was only able to locate one. Seeing as the rest of the tuner is functional, I'd just like to locate where I could order a pack of the miniature "worm" gears. I'm hoping someone knows of where I could find some online to order so I can easily repair this. I attached a photo to show the state of things currently. If anyone has extra gears they're willing to sell I will gladly pay, as I've had an incredibly hard time finding anyone selling them individually online.
Edited by - Murphydoesntmatter on 12/07/2024 05:41:08
Given that a new one from Deering is $25, it's not worth repairing these.
deeringbanjos.com/collections/...jo-tuners
You might want to call them and see if they'll send you one under warranty.
Edited by - euler357 on 12/07/2024 05:52:49
quote:
Originally posted by euler357Given that a new one from Deering is $25, it's not worth repairing these.
deeringbanjos.com/collections/...jo-tunersYou might want to call them and see if they'll send you one under warranty.
I understand this, however this banjo has a very unique backstory and build and I am trying to keep as much of the original external hardware as possible, so I would prefer to acquire the gears only. Thank you for advice though I don't have a warranty with Deering because this banjo is on it's third or second owner. I could try calling regardless I suppose.
McMaster Carr will likely either have the gears or gear stock that you can have machined to the correct size.
mcmaster.com/products/gears/
You could also just buy the single tuner then break it open to get the gears from it and hope they fit.
I question whether those tuners are original to the banjo. I think that this
banjo originally came with guitar style tuners and the holes that are on
the back of the peghead were for screws that helped to hold the tuners
in place, keep them from turning. Are the tuners that you have marked
as being from Deering?
I agree with Bill, having recently replaced my Deering open back’s original guitar tuners, with planitaries, my banjo also has the same extra screw holes in the back of the headstock. So the tuner that broke isn’t original to that banjo.
Which to me is very intriguing! If the hardware on your banjo is so special, that you are willing to rebuild a tuner, rather than replace it, it must be a very special back story! I would love to hear about this banjo’s build. As a Goodtime fan, I can understand. I own two Goodtimes that I bought new, and don’t hesitate to modify. But I have a third Goodtime, which is very old and all original. Its wear and tear has a back story which I don’t know, but it’s been very loved. I won’t change anything on it except the strings. Even the bridge is still original.
Edited by - Dean T on 12/07/2024 08:13:37
If you can't find the gears that you're looking for, and decide to get one replacement peg,
you might check at "Smakula Fretted Instruments". This business belongs to Bob Smakula
who's a member here. He sells single Gotoh pegs with a choice of several different styles
and colors of tuning buttons. You could replace one peg and maintain the rest of the
original, to you, banjo. Gotoh pegs are very high quality.
Even if you can replace the screws, you probably won't be able to close up the housing. This has been discussed here in the past. When they come apart, that's pretty much it. I pulled a Schaller tuner apart by over-tightening it. The circular base of the shaft does not go back into the housing tightly. And it will be very difficult or impossible to press the housing around the circular part with any tool you have at home and without marring the housing.
I don't think a home swaging tool exists that's large enough.
The tuner isn't original to the banjo. You can replace the tuner, age the metal, put on the old button and you're back in business. Or polish the old tuners to match the new.
Smakula does sell “aged” nickel tuners that may be perfect for this
Edited by - Dean T on 12/07/2024 15:24:55
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