MSA pulling problem, got help?

[Lane Gray]

OK, I've got a customer's Classic on the bench, and I took it all apart, cleaned it and am putting it together again. The F lever 8th string is hitching or binding, and I've narrowed the problem to the spacer tube.
The raise scissor moves freely (tested with a Philips screwdriver),
the lever and pulltrain moves freely.
The pullrod doesn't bind in the spacer tube.
If I push on the spacer tube, it hitches in the hole in the endplate.
The spacer tube is freshly cleaned and even polished and I'm not seeing a burr in it.
Anybody got any ideas?

[Dennis Detweiler]

Is it a stock tube with the 1/8 ID? If the ID isn't stock, it may be a slightly larger inside diameter or larger outside diameter? I've never had a problem with my MSA Classics. Use a small round file and slightly ream the hole or the inside edges of the hole.

[Bobby D. Jones]

Could the pull rod has a slight bend about the changer bar lower/raise hole, And it is angling the sleeve so it catches, On the edge of the hole in the plate.
Many MSA classics I have seen, The plate has had either up and down cut slots, Or the plate is no longer there. I think some steel mechanic, Must have had problems and removed, Or cut the slots in the plate.
Good Luck with this problem, Happy Steelin.

[Lane Gray]

Is it a stock tube with the 1/8 ID? If the ID isn't stock, it may be a slightly larger inside diameter or larger outside diameter?

No, it's either a stock tube or a Michael Yahl tube. I've got some of each.

I've never had a problem with my MSA Classics. Use a small round file and slightly ream the hole or the inside edges of the hole.

I've never had a problem, either. Those micros are bulletproof and simple, and this is frustrating. I think I will have to file it. But I don't see any burrs.

[Lane Gray]

Could the pull rod has a slight bend about the changer bar lower/raise hole, And it is angling the sleeve so it catches, on the edge of the hole in the plate.

That was my first thought, so I undid both the tuning nut and the set screw so the rod would move freely, and it's free.

Many MSA classics I have seen, The plate has had either up and down cut slots, Or the plate is no longer there. I think some steel mechanic, Must have had problems and removed, Or cut the slots in the plate.
Good Luck with this problem, Happy Steelin.

This has the normal matrix of the 1/8" holes.

[Donny Hinson]

Something's out of line, so that when the pedal is actuated, the rod is moving up or down slightly. Too much up-and-down movement can cause problems, and I've seen cases where the threads are grabbing on the inside of the spacer, too. If it's that close a fit (the spacer on the rod or the spacer in the endplate hole), you may have to open up the hole slightly. Then add just a small amount of oil or grease on the inside and outside of the spacer.

But the first thing I'd try would be to just swap that spacer with another and see if the problem goes away.

[Dennis Detweiler]

Yes to what Donny said. I recall having that same problem with slight binding upward (upward or downward depending on if the guitar is upside down or right side up). Especially when the rod barrel is on the top of the cross rod puller. Just putting a slight bend to the rod to get it moving straight forward solved the problem.

[Bob Carlucci]

sounds like some vertical or horizontal deflection.. In other words, a slight angle either up down or to either left or right.. I would try loosening the pull finger and just wiggling the pull rod a bit either side.. Before that you also might want to see if putting the pull rod in a different hole on the bellcrank makes a difference.. Something is binding and on those old MSA's its usually deflection,,Seen it before, and sometimes its the smallest fraction of an inch "off".. Other times on those MSA's I have seen changer fingers being pulled at a terrible angle give NO problem at all.

[Lane Gray]

I found the problem, and I'm an idiot. It was binding on the slightly offset bellcrank of the E lowers. Everything is in line and all is well. I was SURE I'd checked it before I posted.