Locking trem advice needed.

[voodooradio1]

Hi folks.I know it is considered poor manners to pop onto a forum and ask advice when you havent really contributed anything.While I do have a very low post count,I am not new to RT.I have been lurking and enjoying this place for around three years.I dont post much because I am usually caught up in taking in all the great info here.
So, I was hoping you guys could help me out with a guitar project I am working on.I recently picked up a Jackson PS4 because the price was right and it is a nice player.I noticed right off that the trem was a real shit sandwich.Played it at band practice today and it stayed in tune better than I thought it would, but it aint going to cut it for gigging.
While disassembling the guitar I noticed that the trem post were very loose fitting in the grommets.What is the best way to remove these grommets?Also, what is the purpose of the metal cap that covers the recessed area?(see pics)When shopping for a replacement, will an acurate center to center measurement of the post holes be enough info to ensure proper string spacing?
Any help is appreciated and feel free to offer suggetions on a reliable replacement.

thanx,
Sheppard

 

[glpg80]

welcome aboard

no, the metal cap is not needed if you are using floyd rose style press fit post studs. the only realistic reason i have for its existance is that it is for stud and post stability due to the type of wood the guitar is made out of for stability/distribution of the horizontal forces involved and/or to make up the difference in the poor quality of the studs. if using floyd rose press-in-fit posts and studs you could most likely remove that bar without a problem at all and it would have no effect on the operation of the tremelo in your guitar...with the addition of a few minor things mentioned below.

as far as getting grommetts out, im guessing you mean the studs themselves as the knife edge posts are already removed.

if they are stuck, take a small drill bit and drill 3 relief holes around the studs. use a soldering iron to heat them just in case a glue or epoxy was used, and then screw in one of the old studs, use a pair of locking vice grips to the stud and you should be able to pull it out. if you have access to a drill press, then you have an even easier method you can try. find a head of a bolt that is the same exact diameter as the stud. clamp the threads into the drill press, put a towel under the guitar body to help distribute pressure, and use the drill press to slowly and carefully press each one out after the relief holes are drilled.

refill the hole with an oak or hickory dowel rod and wood glue. once thoroughly dry, sand flush and redrill the hole for the floyd rose studs - epoxy them in, since the wood in question could be too pliable. with the oak or hickory dowels + wood glue + epoxied floyd studs to screw the floyd knife posts into, i dont think they will be going anywhere anytime soon. PS double check the locations of the holes before drilling - measure twice cut once.

 

[voodooradio1]

Thanks for the info.

 

[glip22]

Honestly, I wouldn't even attempt it if the stud will not come out just by screwing a longer screw into it and pulling up. You do not want to wigle the studs at all as you will bore the hole out and ruin the press grooves. If it doesn't come out with a screw pulling straight up I would not attempt it without one of these, expensive but better than drilling or ruining your mount holes.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Speci ... uller.html

 

[voodooradio1]

I have not even attempted to remove them yet.Thanks for taking time to post that link.I have a tool on my work truck(Cartridge puller for moen faucets)that can be easily adapted to do the same thing.
Once I have them removed, do you think the dowel and redrill will be nessasary if the new post fit tight and I glue them in?Is the post spacing the same across the different models?

Thanx again,
Sheppard

 

[glip22]

I have not even attempted to remove them yet.Thanks for taking time to post that link.I have a tool on my work truck(Cartridge puller for moen faucets)that can be easily adapted to do the same thing.
Once I have them removed, do you think the dowel and redrill will be nessasary if the new post fit tight and I glue them in?Is the post spacing the same across the different models?

Thanx again,
Sheppard

It should be standard. There can also be a very little bit of play in the bridge stud, not the insert. A little bit of play is normal since you are not screwing the bolt in tight for bridge height adjustment purposes. It sounds to me that your inserts are a little worn and need to be replaced and new floyd bolts are in order. They come as a set anyway.