Pedal Hex tuners/swap for metal ones

[Leif Nicklas]

New steel player here, I was wondering if it’s possible to swap out the plastic hex tuners that adjust the pedals for metal ones on my Zum Stage One. They look fragile and prone to stripping. Has anyone done this? Thank you!

[Bobby D. Jones]

Nylon tuning will preform well and last a long time. Nylon tuners are drilled with proper size hole to fit different size pull rods. Nylon tuning nuts are not tapped, As the tuning nut is screwed on to metal pull rod they cut their own internal threads, This makes a snug fit on the rod, So tuner must be physically turned to tune pull, Not move on it own and change tuning.

There are 3 different size rods used in factory built guitars.
3/32" 4-40 thread size
7/64" 5-40 " "
1/8" 5-40 0r 6-40 thread size
Some old guitars even used bicycle wheel spokes for pull rods, With like a 2-54 thread.
If a nut with a larger hole size is put on a smaller rod. They can and will slip and cause problems.

The only way metal tuners would work as tuning nuts. Would take extra work and expense by having some type of NYLOK insert installed, So the nut would have to be physically turned, and not move on its own and cause detuning.
Some guitars were built with what looks like metal tuning nuts, But they are solid mounted to rod and the rod screws into a nylon fitting in the bell crank for adjustment. (Excel if my memory is right.)

[Lane Gray]

Some guitars were built with what looks like metal tuning nuts, But they are solid mounted to rod and the rod screws into a nylon fitting in the bell crank for adjustment. (Excel if my memory is right.)

See also Sierra.
Leif, the nylon tuning nuts are considered a wear item, but a very slow wear. My Zum is 35 years old this Christmas and has only needed the A pedal and 6th string B pedal replaced, and I've probably worked on a dozen old MSA guitars and replaced no more than a dozen nuts.