70's Fender F style machine heads problem

[PEImatrix]

Is there anything I can do to make these work a little smoother? When there's no tension on the string they work perfectly. They also seem to seize up a little over night, but after I give them that first turn, they loosen up a bit. I'm wondering if they are binding between the tuning post and the bushing.

 

[PEImatrix]

...

 

[Eagle1]

You can take them apart and re lube them (with lithium grease) if they are the Schaller made ones but if they are late 60s kluson made it will be a little more problematic.
You can tell the difference when you remove the "F" back ,the Schaller has a brass sleeve around a cast zinc body and the Kluson is pressed steel.

 

[PEImatrix]

Anyone else have this prob? I'll have to find some grease, but I'm not sure what to apply it. Mine are the Schallers.

 

[Magic Dragon]

What I did on my '78 Mustang: replace them with new Fender 70s repros which are much better sealed tuners. Keep the originals and put them back if you ever sell the guitar.

A lot of people seem to have forgotten than Fender ca 1970s were the worst instruments Fender ever produced. They were poorly made guitars with cheap hardware. Now they are "vintage".

The old tuners are not really "fixable" The Klusons are the worst. Had them on a Coronado and gave up on it.

 

[PEImatrix]

A lot of people seem to have forgotten than Fender ca 1970s were the worst instruments Fender ever produced. They were poorly made guitars with cheap hardware.

I like mine. LOL

 

[Magic Dragon]

I liked my Mustang a lot too -and the Coronado as well. Although the Mustang was heavy as hell being Fender used the heaviest Ash available in the world at the time .

I did manage to use both them and keep them in tune for years. However, they were made at a time when priority #1 at Fender was cutting costs. That shows in the build and hardware quality.

Don't get me wrong. You don't want to devalue the guitar by putting sperzels or something on it. But, if the modern F-tuners are a direct fit (they were on my Mustang). You will get better tuning stability with them.