Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Grover machine head upgrade

  1. #1
    Ursus Mandolinus Fretbear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Copperhead Road
    Posts
    3,136

    Default

    I got fed up with Shaller's sloppy gearing and excessive "backlash" and changed them out for a set of the 18:1 ratio Grover's with the black shafts. While I liked the feel and construction of the Grover's, there was a small problem; they didn't stay in tune! I removed all variables and closed in on the fact that something was going on with the tuning machines, causing them to slip/not hold their tuning. I stripped down both the old Shaller's and the Grover's and found that the oblong nylon washer between the gear and the matching metal backing plate were made of different materials. The Shaller's are a clear nylon or plastic material and the Grover's are made of a much stiffer black nylon or plastic material; it could almost be mistaken for spring steel. I had always noticed that in spite of the downsides of the Shaller's gearing etc., that they would generally (after a fierce tuning session) eventually stay in tune. I installed the clear washers from the Shaller's into the Grover's and they immediately stopped slipping and stayed tuned. They can be switched out without even removing the machine heads from the mandolin, you just have to loosen the strings and remove the round gear. The black Grover washers, however, do not fit "as is" into the Schaller's; they would have to be trimmed, but you wouldn't want to use them anyways.
    Happy picking.
    But Amsterdam was always good for grieving
    And London never fails to leave me blue
    And Paris never was my kinda town
    So I walked around with the Ft. Worth Blues

  2. #2

    Default

    ..hmmm..thats good to know..Ive got Grovers on my mando and have never had a problem with it staying in tune though...maybe they are just like everything..some clunkers leave the factory..

  3. #3

    Default

    Which Grover heads? The econo's or the deluxe?

  4. #4
    Ursus Mandolinus Fretbear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Copperhead Road
    Posts
    3,136

    Default

    Deluxe from Stew-Mac. Grover #308FVN.
    But Amsterdam was always good for grieving
    And London never fails to leave me blue
    And Paris never was my kinda town
    So I walked around with the Ft. Worth Blues

  5. #5
    Kelley Mandolins Skip Kelley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    3,320

    Default

    Are the Grover gears cut like the Schallers? I would like to get a set for my mandolin, but I want them to turn the same way.

  6. #6

    Default

    Yes they're cut like the schaller

  7. #7

Similar Threads

  1. Carving machine
    By Tucker Mandolins in forum Builders and Repair
    Replies: 7
    Last: Mar-10-2008, 6:57pm
  2. The wayback machine
    By Larry S Sherman in forum General Mandolin Discussions
    Replies: 4
    Last: Oct-17-2007, 8:59pm
  3. Sears cnc machine
    By mikeyes in forum Builders and Repair
    Replies: 9
    Last: Jan-09-2007, 4:44pm
  4. Mandolin head-to-head comparison
    By Keith Owen in forum Looking for Information About Mandolins
    Replies: 26
    Last: Feb-23-2006, 1:17pm
  5. How should I fix my machine
    By fatt-dad in forum Builders and Repair
    Replies: 18
    Last: Mar-26-2005, 4:03pm

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •