the Fly Clone Project

Posted: **Thu Feb 28, 2019 6:53 pm**

We adapted the long tension screw and created a removable bridge block for locking down a vibrato bridge using this aluminum threaded rod and creating a ESPRIT operation to control the cutting.

See this post for a bridge-blocked solution with a piece of wood.

Posted: **Sat Sep 11, 2021 1:02 pm**

First Off I didn't mean to Clutter Up Your Spring Thread with all my photos etc..

And YES I was talking about the threaded aluminum rod with the slot cut in it..
The one in your photo is extra long to block the tremolo
I ordered one from WI Guitar & it arrived today along with a truss rod nut that won't do me any good..
So Now I need the T-Bar, Adjustment Nut & The Spring..
Have never seen the knurled nut with the holes for sale anywhere.
T-Bar is available on Reverb & eBay currently + the tremolo arm..
Need to look & make sure the plastic insert is good on the tremolo arm in the trem
IIRC I saw somewhere were that was available in Stainless Steel..
I have seen the plastic one on either Reverb or eBay as well..
Thanks vjmanzo

Posted: **Sat Sep 11, 2021 1:09 pm**

This is the "NUT" I need to find..

: nut.jpg (29.17 KiB) Viewed 12997 times

Posted: **Sat Sep 11, 2021 1:16 pm**

Hi @Fly Rod; I moved your posts here in an effort to keep things organized.

I think I have an extra of the rod pictured; I'll double back soon.

Posted: **Sat Sep 11, 2021 9:41 pm**

Thanks alot vjmanzo..
Please if you do I would be interested for sure in the LONG ROD Tremolo Block..

I looked at the photo & wondered how you where able to even get that LONG ROD into the Parker?
Will assume in the picture there's very little to none of the ROD in the frame..

Tilted it in at an angle to mate up with the toothed threaded hole & then put the rubber cap on the End?

Or Raised the tremolo up & installed & the lowered it back down?

I see you modeled the threaded knurled NUT with the adjustment holes..
Tension Wheel Refined
Will let you know if I have a tap & die that large in a while..
If so I'll let you know the thread size & pitch
Guess you already know IF you had the threaded shaft made up..

Hope to be able to find a Nut or Have One Made..
As Far As I Can Tell It's 1/2"x 20 but the notch makes getting the die on it impossible

Posted: **Sat Sep 11, 2021 9:53 pm**

Not a problem—I’ll be back in the lab this week and I’ll PM you.

That photo is from our 12-String Fly mod project; we ultimately raised the bridge quite a bit to insert the rod. We obviously also removed the parts that grip the spring.

I would have done a few things differently now—we used a steel rod, which adds a little bit of weight

and we also cut the rod too long, which makes getting it in and out of that recessed cavity a little annoying. The threaded “nut” as your calling (shown in your previous post) it is the same part as the rubber “wheel” except without them rubber exterior; that’s the stock part on “refined” Flys.

I promised myself that if I ever have to adjust something on the bridge, I’ll just put the stock parts back and use a block of wood instead of a threaded rod. Hindsight, ya know?

Posted: **Mon Sep 13, 2021 12:17 pm**

Thanks vjmanzo
I found a lug NUT this morning that should work on the fly as the tension wheel.
Threads on the threaded adjustment shaft with the keyway I bought from Wi Guitar.
It's 1/2" x 20 Dorman 611-154 at Auto Zone $2.49ea.
The drive wrench size is 3/4" or 19mm..
Fit's a Ford F-150 75-84..
If I knew exactly how wide the tension wheel should be I would whittle it down to that width with a grinder or hack saw & file..
Appears 1/2" to 9/16" thick or wide by the great picture..
The one I bought is chrome plated & has a burr at it's base due to the plating, I will run a tap threw it shortly.
Will cut it down after lunch this Monday.. Not sure if I will drill the six holes making it a Capstan Nut, Like factory..
What is the size of the rod to adjust the tension wheel?? That would be the drill bit to use in my drill press..

: Dorman 611-154.jpg (10.66 KiB) Viewed 12931 times

Here's what I came up with as far as cutting the nut down for use as a Tension Wheel, It's close to 9/16" Wide now with a nice flat footprint to touch the body..