Truss rod won't budge. Any tips?

lovestrat74 · November 2022

Bought a neck off the bay and stupidly didn't check the truss rod before leaving it too long to return.

Anyways... any tips for getting this to budge? The neck has never been used so I am a bit miffed as to why the rod is not turning.

prowla · November 2022

Do not use WD40!

lovestrat74 · November 2022

prowla said:

Do not use WD40!

You'll be pleased to know I have resisted the can

ICBM · November 2022

Deliberately backbow the neck using clamps and supports - that will relieve the tension on the rod. Then see if it moves - especially in the looser direction.

SteveRobinson · November 2022

Heat is often a good way to free seized parts. Can you get a soldering iron tip onto the nut?

WezV · November 2022

A simple thing sonetimes missed. Loosen before tightening

lovestrat74 · November 2022

It won't budge in any direction. I'll try the soldering iron and if that doesn't work I'll try some clamping. Should I put something under the middle of the neck and then clamp at the 1st and 21st frets down to a worktop? Or is there an easier way?

BillDL · November 2022

Depending on where the truss rod access is, it would probably be easier to place it fretboard side down with a block of something at either end, and with the truss rod access facing the edge of the desk/bench, and press the back of the neck down in the middle as you try to move the truss rod. If you have somebody else to press down as you try the adjustment it would be easier.

lovestrat74 · November 2022

BillDL said:

Depending on where the truss rod access is, it would probably be easier to place it fretboard side down with a block of something at either end, and with the truss rod access facing the edge of the desk/bench, and press the back of the neck down in the middle as you try to move the truss rod. If you have somebody else to press down as you try the adjustment it would be easier.

Of course it would Bill. I am such a doof!!

BillDL · November 2022

Indeed, but I am too much of a gentleman to say so

lovestrat74 · November 2022

BillDL said:

Indeed, but I am too much of a gentleman to say so

Jonathangus · November 2022

I assume it was bought used? If it's new, and faulty, return periods don't count, surely?

lovestrat74 · November 2022

Jonathangus said:

I assume it was bought used? If it's new, and faulty, return periods don't count, surely?

Yes it was used/finished but never installed. I wonder why ?

BillDL · November 2022

Any luck so far getting the truss rod nut to turn?

lovestrat74 · November 2022

Ah yes, the truss rod! Well I had a go at it at the weekend Bill. 2 blocks wrapped in cloth at either end of the fretboard and a clamp in the middle. I could still only move it under an 1/8 of a turn in either direction. I was thinking of getting a heavier duty g-clamp on it. The one I used was a squeeze mechanism, but I think it needs a good old fashioned threaded g-clamp. I'll get a heavy duty one off the old man. He's got all the tools

BillDL · November 2022

I suppose it depends whether you are willing to potentially scrap the neck. Personally I would be quite worried if I had to use more pressure than offered by a squeeze clamp, but as long as you use a G clamp in tiny increments and listen out for any signs of wood beginning to crack you might be OK. Two things to bear in mind is that if this is a rosewood fingerboard on a different wood neck you are trying to bend two different types of wood. By bending the neck into a back bow you could potentially be widening the fret slots by a hair's width and it is possible for frets to loosen a tiny bit. Just something extra to worry about while listening for creaking turning to cracking

WezV · November 2022

Have you tried heat yet?

lovestrat74 · November 2022

@WezV I did try a heat gun. The neck is in my shed but I might bring it in the house and stick it on my heated floor to "soften" it up a bit as the temp outside has dropped quite a bit lately.

Thanks @BillDL didn't think of that. It will be a steady as she goes approach

WezV · November 2022

Try a soldering iron on the truss rod, heat the metal directly

lovestrat74 · November 2022

WezV said:

Try a soldering iron on the truss rod, heat the metal directly

Did try that but probably not for long enough. Might try again with a heavier tip.

lovestrat74 · December 2022

An update for anyone that is interested. I couldn't get the rod to turn any more than 5mm, so I have strung it up and it appears to be ok. So I will leave this one for now and revisit next year... maybe

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Truss rod won't budge. Any tips?

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