Broken Pickup Selector

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Author Message hb3 Advanced Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 381 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 6:34 pm:    It just spins. Ack! hb3 Advanced Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 382 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 6:48 pm:    Ok, here's how this one went down: I'm looking at my bass, thinking, 'Hm, haven't used the pickup selector in awhile...' Reach down and begin twisting the pickup selector. 'Hmm, that feels pretty weird.' Next thing I know, it's spinning in a circle. I mean, what the shit? mica Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 6185 Registered: 6-2000 Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 7:13 pm:    When it's spinning, are you changing positions? I mean, is it clicking as you spin or not. Trying to see if it is really the switch or just the knob. You need a .050" hex driver (2 set screws) to check the knob is seated properly. Could also be the nut that holds the bushing of the pot in place. Check that too, especially if you are not clicking as you spin. Also, don't spin around - you don't want to stress the wiring inside (take a peek in there to see that it isn't all coiled up around the terminals). hb3 Advanced Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 383 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 7:38 pm:    Yeah, it's the switch spinning, and it's not clicking. It clicked a few times -- then it stopped clicking. So it just spins, but spinning in one direction tightens it. hb3 Advanced Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 384 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 7:48 pm:    Took a peek inside...the wires were starting to wrap around, but not that bad. I guess that's what the "tightening" feeling was. But the whole unit feels loose in there -- like a bushing or a nut or something. davehouck Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8197 Registered: 5-2002 Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 8:01 pm:    If the wires were wrapping around, then the whole thing was spinning, and the nut probably needs to be tightened. Loosen the two set screws with the Allen wrench Mica mentioned. Be very careful not to let them fall out; they are very small and are easily lost. Once the set screws are loose, you can pull the knob off the shaft. With the knob off, you can, carefully, tighten the nut that secures the pot to the body. You might want to put a cloth between the wrench and the body to prevent scratching. It might take a couple tries to get it back in the right position so that the knob points where you want it to point when it's in the "both" position. hb3 Advanced Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 385 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 8:16 pm:    Thanks, I'll check it out. Yes, it looks like the whole thing was spinning. hb3 Advanced Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 386 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 8:39 pm:    Success! Now that's some great service. chalie_holmes Member Username: chalie_holmes Post Number: 85 Registered: 3-2009 Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 5:17 am:    Yay! Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! Happy ending!!!!!!! davehouck Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 8199 Registered: 5-2002 Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 10:15 am:    Congrats! olieoliver Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 2509 Registered: 2-2006 Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 10:19 am:    I've been guilty of this before.... ...having a screw loose.....LOL OO At least that's what my wife tells me! georgie_boy Senior Member Username: georgie_boy Post Number: 800 Registered: 8-2005 Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 10:54 am:    I'll second that Olie!! G hb3 Advanced Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 387 Registered: 2-2005 Posted on Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 2:08 pm:    That was rapidly becoming an Existential crisis -- "Whatever man touches, he destroys." Thanks for the helpful intervention.