Vintage style machinehead query

Voxman

I know this is probably a silly question, but in vintage style machineheads you sometimes see a hole in the casing, as in my HB Tele:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/190954836@N04/50575717451/in/dateposted-public/

Presumably this is just for lubrication access - or does it facilitate adjustment with a hex key? 

richardhomer

It’s definitely just for lubrication - the hole lines up with where the worm meshes with the gear.

thermionic

They shouldn’t need lubrication though. Grease runs the risk of them gumming up and oil could run into the tuner holes and ruin the wood.

If they’re decades old and neglected, take them off and use the holes to flush solvent through, followed with a small amount of fresh grease. 

ICBM

Grease is the right thing to use and if it’s proper mechanical engineering grease - not substitutes like chap-stick - it won’t ‘gum up’.

Voxman

Thanks guys...I assumed it was for lubrication but thought it was just worth checking that I wasn't missing a trick 're an adjustment I was unaware of.