how to loosen a disc to adjust it?

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This topic has 12 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 10 months ago by Sylvia.

Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)

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November 22, 2013 at 7:23 pm #77750

Sylvia
Participant

It is a bass disc…5th F wire. I want to adjust the disc, but I can’t get it loose. I know about levering the screwdriver between the arms to loosen it before turning the screw, but it just won’t loosen. It’s been too many years and is probably corroded. I always heard we shouldn’t put lubricant on them, and I don’t want to force it.

November 22, 2013 at 9:20 pm #77751

marcia-farkas
Participant

Do you have any sewing machine oil? A few drops should loosen it for you!

November 22, 2013 at 9:41 pm #77752

emma-graham
Participant

Or maybe a teeny tiny spray of WD40?

Silly question (but you never know ;)) – are you levering it the right way to loosen the locking screw? Even though the discs are reverse threaded you still have to lever it anticlockwise to loosen it initially.

November 22, 2013 at 11:13 pm #77753

marcia-farkas
Participant

Do NOT use WD40!

November 22, 2013 at 11:14 pm #77754

Sylvia
Participant

Yes, I know about the the counterclockwise stuff. As for the lubricant, Marcia, have you used it? I’m about to put something on it, but as I said, I’ve always heard it’s not good to do that, but I wouldn’t know why.
I’m kind of hoping for a harp tech to tell us the best thing. Probably my harps are older than most of the ones here on the forum. This is my Aoyama ’89.

November 23, 2013 at 12:15 am #77755

patricia-jaeger
Member

Sylvia , there is a web page listing many harp technicians, their contact information, etc. You could try to get a good answer from one of those listed, at:
http://www.lyonhealy.com/techguild.htm. Robert E. Hohlbauch, in Vancouver Washington, trained on Aoyama harps in Japan,, for example. Some harps from other countries are manufactured with backward screw thread direction in their screws, from the direction used throughout the U.S.A. so it is important to check with a technician for an operation such you wish to perform. Good luck!

November 23, 2013 at 1:39 am #77756

marcia-farkas
Participant

My information came directly from a harp tech. sewing machine oil will loosen and not rust like WD40. You can put a few drops on an ear swab and gently go in back of the disc. The harps I have used this method on were build in 1910 and 1911. I would consider your harp rather new!

November 23, 2013 at 4:45 am #77757

carl-swanson
Participant

Sylvia- Start by unwinding the string and moving it out of the way. Then put a screwdriver crossways through the prongs of the disc and rotate the disc in a counterclockwise direction. That will loosen the grip of the screw. Then unscrew the screw in the same direction, counterclockwise.

November 23, 2013 at 6:15 pm #77758

Tacye
Participant

If constant pressure won’t release it sometimes exactly the same force but applied as a sharp tap will break screws free.

November 23, 2013 at 6:16 pm #77759

carl-swanson
Participant

Sylvia- What make of instrument is this anyway? And about how old is it?

November 23, 2013 at 6:46 pm #77760

Sylvia
Participant

This is my Aoyama Etude ’89.
I already tried the screwdriver crossways to try to get the disc to move. It won’t.
That’s why I wondered about a lubricant. I know not to use WD40. Marcia swears by sewing machine oil…if that doesn’t work, maybe the Viscotene will. I’m a big fan of leaving it alone if I can get by with it as is…wait till I’m not too busy.

November 23, 2013 at 6:59 pm #77761

carl-swanson
Participant

I think maybe your not exerting enough pressure. The disc is brass, the screw is steel. They don’t corrode together.

November 23, 2013 at 7:15 pm #77762

Sylvia
Participant

I don’t want the disc arm to break off. Then it’s really hard to get off because there’s only one arm to lever against (I levered between the disc and the screw head that time)…that was my LH ’71. The place that’s stuck would be whatever happens there after years of togetherness.
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