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how often do the screws on the ends of the pivot rods need to be adjusted?

Author: ffrr
Date: 2005-03-29 01:22

Just wondering, and I imagine it depends on how much playing time the instrument gets, but is it a once a year, service thing, or every week or so?

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Re: how often do the screws on the ends of the pivot rods need to be adjusted?

Author: Iplayclarinet
Date: 2005-03-29 01:26

well when they start coming out you should tighten them back up, you could hit them every so often when you think about it also.

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Re: how often do the screws on the ends of the pivot rods need to be adjusted?

Author: Neil
Date: 2005-03-29 01:52

I try to take everything apart and clean and oil it once a year. Other than that, just as necessary for pad replacements or if one comes loose. If a particular screw won't stay tight you should take it to a tech (the clarinet, not just the screw). In general, I don't agree with the practice of tightening screws just to see if they turn; if you know or suspect a screw is loose, go ahead and tighten it but otherwise leave it alone. Note: I'm not a tech, if one of the techs on the board responds you should heed his advice over mine.

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Re: how often do the screws on the ends of the pivot rods need to be adjusted?

Author: ffrr
Date: 2005-03-29 02:24

Thanks. Once again, quick helpful advice from the people on this board!

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Re: how often do the screws on the ends of the pivot rods need to be adjusted?

Author: ron b
Date: 2005-03-29 02:41

Checking at least once a week, ffrr, just to make sure everything's where it should be, is a good habit to acquire. Every instrumentalist should know the basics of keeping their instrument(s) in working order, in my opinion.

- r [cool]

[cool]

n b -

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Re: how often do the screws on the ends of the pivot rods need to be adjusted?

Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-03-29 11:42

... but be aware that some types of screws will jam the mechanism if overtightened, and these are common.

If a good technician has checked the screws then I don't think they should EVER work loose.

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Re: how often do the screws on the ends of the pivot rods need to be adjusted?

Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-03-29 14:37

Good advice, G NZ et al, a word of CAUTION, tho, before entrusting an "early" student with a small screw driver, point out that the ADJUSTMENT set screw on the G# throat key [and others if present] should prob. be left alone, UNLESS she/he knows that its over-tightened effect is sometimes disasterous ! Don

Thanx, Mark, Don

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Re: how often do the screws on the ends of the pivot rods need to be adjusted?

Author: ffrr
Date: 2005-03-30 04:09

"the ADJUSTMENT set screw on the G# throat key [and others if present] should prob. be left alone, UNLESS she/he knows that its over-tightened effect is sometimes disasterous !"

Disastrous! In what way?

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Re: how often do the screws on the ends of the pivot rods need to be adjusted?

Author: pewd
Date: 2005-03-30 04:45

why dont you tighten it a tad too far then try and play your horn.
the G# key will be open , leaking, horn is unplayable.
back the screw off a 1/4 turn or so, and presto, the horn plays again.

paul

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Re: how often do the screws on the ends of the pivot rods need to be adjusted?

Author: ffrr
Date: 2005-03-30 06:48

OK, I see. I was worried it might damage something permanently

I did realise that you can overtighten them. I was learning sax for a short while some time ago, and one screw worked very loose on the sax. I found that if I tightened it up too far, the pivot became stiff and the spring couldn't close the key properly. Obviously it needs to be set so that it works, but is not loose enough for the pivot to let the pad wobble out of alignment (as that was causing a leak as well - because the pad was not seating properly).

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Re: how often do the screws on the ends of the pivot rods need to be adjusted?

Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-03-30 08:14

"..I was worried it might damage something permanently.."

Yes indeed. Your worry may well be justified.

If you scew some pivot screws too far on a sax you will force a mounting post, pushing it out of alignment or even parting the soldering at its base if it is a sax. On a clarinet, you may just loosen a post, or strip its threaded hole in the body, or worse. This damage can be corrected, but probably needs a capable technician.

There are few jobs on instrumnets that do not have significant traps lurking for the inexperienced.

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Re: how often do the screws on the ends of the pivot rods need to be adjusted?

Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-03-30 14:43

A pivot screw shouldn't "back out." If it does, the tip is too long, and you should take it to a repair shop to have them grind the point a tiny bit shorter, so it can be screwed in tight without binding.

Nevertheless, it happens. I once had to stop between movements of a WW quintet concert becaues a screw was about to fall out, and I was at a concert once where the clarinetist actually had a key fall off. Fortunately, they were playing Elliott Carter's 8 Etudes and a Fantasy (I think), and the movement they were in was a single note, passed around among the players. He grabbed his A clarinet, continued through and put the key back on at the end of the movement.

I'd say check out the screw tightness at least once a week, and certainly before a concert.

Ken Shaw

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Re: how often do the screws on the ends of the pivot rods need to be adjusted?

Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-03-30 15:05

Be wary that the screws are slotted and soft, and a misplaced driver can render the slotted area unusable. Also, overtightening can bind a key.
That is why there are so many tools for removing errant screws and for swedging rods, etc.

, I wouldn't use a DeWalt 18V driver, unless Of course you pick the low torque setting. [right]

[right]

Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-

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Re: how often do the screws on the ends of the pivot rods need to be adjusted?

Author: Contra
Date: 2005-03-30 21:54

One day during rehearsal a few years ago, a screw came out of my bass clarinet. Unfortunately, it took a good bit of keywork with it.

Moral: Always check the screws.

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Re: how often do the screws on the ends of the pivot rods need to be adjusted?

Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-03-31 11:46

My tech uses a drop of thread locking compound on worrisome screws, to keep them in place.

Most screws that work loose are too large for the pivot point, and the action of the key works them free, over time.

Best design I ever saw for "rod' type screws was in a Boosey and Hawkes "Imperial", where the center section of the rod had been reduced in diameter, allowing only the last margins to touch the keywork.

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