|
Author
|
Topic: For BMI owners. Working on a BMI.
|
SveinungL
Member From: Oslo - Norway - Europe
|
posted 04 September 2005 11:48 AM
profile
Hi.
I have purchased a u-12 BMI that waits for me. I'll go from Europe to play in US and have that guitar there. I'll need to rod it up to fit my copedent. What tools do I need for this? Are these guitars simple to do work on (I hope so!)
Regards - Sveinung. |
Jon Light
Member From: Brooklyn, NY
|
posted 04 September 2005 11:55 AM
profile
Pretty simple, pretty straight forward. The rods are held in place on the bell cranks with little cotter pins. You will want needle nose pliers to pull & insert the pins. You may need a socket wrench or a straight handled socket driver for attaching and removing the bell crank to/from the cross bar (can't really call it a cross-rod---you will see what I mean when you get the guitar). Standard wrench for the nylon tuning nuts. That's about it.
This is based on an early '80's BMI. If there have been significant changes over the years, I apologize for giving you bad info. [This message was edited by Jon Light on 04 September 2005 at 11:55 AM.] |
Jon Light
Member From: Brooklyn, NY
|
posted 04 September 2005 12:08 PM
profile
You can study on this if you want. Feel free to ask any questions. 
 [This message was edited by Jon Light on 04 September 2005 at 12:17 PM.] |
David Higginbotham
Member From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
|
posted 04 September 2005 06:34 PM
profile
Pretty easy to work on and vesatile as far as changing tunings. The only aggravations are the nylon & metal spacers that are used on the rods in the changer. They are pretty hard to keep track of when you need to change holes on the changer. There is also no stop adjustments on the pedal rods. Other than these challenges they are pretty easy to set up. |
Dave Mudgett
Member From: Central Pennsylvania, USA
|
posted 04 September 2005 06:57 PM
profile
Jon's pix of his undercarriage look just like those on my early 80s BMI S-10. The same instructions he gave work fine on mine also - needlenose pliers to pull out and insert cotter pins, whatever driver you need to remove bellcranks from crossbar. I made the changes I needed and cleaned everything up in one morning, and I am no steel mechanic. Great sounding, good playing, practical steel, it's the main one I use out. Good luck. |
SveinungL
Member From: Oslo - Norway - Europe
|
posted 05 September 2005 08:55 AM
profile
Thanks for the info and the pics guys!
Looks like I will need pliers if I have to bend any of the rods to fit the "bellcranks." Or I can bring threading-tools if I cut the rod in the threaded end. Are the threads for the nylon tuners standard Sho-Bud threads? Do any of you know the dimentions opf these threads?
Regards - Sveinung |
David Higginbotham
Member From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
|
posted 05 September 2005 01:41 PM
profile
It would be very difficult to bend the end of the rods to fit the bellcranks since they are drilled to insert a cotter pin. You are far better off cutting the changer end of the rod to length and threading. I do not remember the size of the die, but it was a standard size that I have in my set. The tuning nuts are also standard. |
Lyle Clary
Member From: Decatur, Illinois, USA
|
posted 05 September 2005 04:10 PM
profile
As Dave said they are fairly east to work on. If you need to make a new rod get 1/8 inch rod sold at most hardware stores. You may have to convert to metric. I had to buy a 5-40 tap and die set to match the BMI factory parts. You can get nylon hex tuners from Don Fritch at BMI 479 938-2575 for a about a dollar a piece. A little trick I used to drill the hole for the cotter clip is to take a square piece of 2 by 6 with a table saw cut 2 1/8 th deep cuts at right angles to each other. Lay the board on your drill press and press the rod into the slot after you have bent the 90 on the end. You can adjust the hole as close as you want to the bend then cut both ends to length then thread the end. This jig ensures that the hole is drilled square with the bend. You can also duplicate the nylon bushings from stock at some hardware stores. You do not really need the little short bullet bushing that rides up against the changers. I will be happy to answer any more questions.
Hi Dave long time no see.
PS you really don't need to buy the tap you can use the rod to thread the nylon tuner, they are drilled the right size1969 ZB Custom D10, BMI S10, 1981 Peavy Musician Mark III, 15 Inch Black Widow, custom enclosure
[This message was edited by Lyle Clary on 05 September 2005 at 04:15 PM.] [This message was edited by Lyle Clary on 05 September 2005 at 04:19 PM.] |
Jerry Hayes
Member From: Virginia Beach, Va.
|
posted 06 September 2005 06:28 AM
profile
Hey SveinungL, just remember when you're making changes and you disconnect to rod from the bell crank not to pull it right out. On a ShoBud or whatever you can just take off the nylon hex tuner and pull the rod out but not on a BMI. Once you disconnect it from the bellcrank, push it very slowly back through the changer and make sure it's centered in the hole and the nylon spacer and small bullet nosed metal piece will come through so you can take them off. If you just remove the tuner and pull the rod through these two pieces will drop inside the changer cavity and if you have a lot of pulls you may not be able to get them out easily! Congrats on getting your BMI, they're great guitars. I love mine!....JH in Va.------------------
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
Lyle Clary
Member From: Decatur, Illinois, USA
|
posted 06 September 2005 09:34 AM
profile
Jerry is right about the nylon and metal bushings. For extra insurance, take a pair of side cutting pliers and nick the rod close to the changers. This nick will push the bushings out as you pull the rod out. Been there done that, I wish I would have picked up the "TEE" shirt at the BMI booth at ST. Louis.------------------
1969 ZB Custom D10, BMI S10, 1981 Peavy Musician Mark III, 15 Inch Black Widow, custom enclosure
|
SveinungL
Member From: Oslo - Norway - Europe
|
posted 06 September 2005 12:59 PM
profile
Thanks a lot guys! Great info!
-Sveinung |
The Steel Guitar Forum
