Stuck truss rod

[dennyb2009]

HELP ! I have a 12 string neck with a stuck truss rod . I can not get it to turn . It takes a 4 mm hex wrench but simply wont budge . I don't want to strip the adjustment nut .
The neck is warped to the point of raising the strings 3/!6 off the frets in the center when I press the low E at the 1st and 17 th frets and is thus very difficult to play . I am open to suggestions to free the damn thing up !

Thanks

Denny

[D2o]

I would put a drop or two (literally) of pentrating oil on the nut, let it sit for at least a day, and then use your truss rod tool to gently apply pressure in clockwise and counterclockwise motion - i.e. work it back and forth, but stop short of man-handling it when applying the pressure.

If that doesn't work, I would try touching a soldering iron to it for a few minutes to heat it up and see if that helps when you work it back and forth.

If you get it off, lubricate the rod and nut (with white lithium grease, for example) so you don't repeat the problem in the future.

Repeat from scratch, if necessary. DON'T manhandle it!

Good luck,
D2o

[dennyb2009]

Thanks .
I did try the penetrating oil all ready with no luck .
I will try your soldering iron suggestion tomorrow . ( Monday )

[cynical1]

Couple of questions and requests for clarifications.

First, how old is this guitar, and when was the last time you/anyone actually adjusted the truss rod?

When you say "warped" did you mean "bowed", "back-bowed"...or really warped? The first two can be addressed with a truss rod adjustment, the third cannot.

The idea of the heat if on the nut is a good one, as if this has never been adjusted there's a good chance there may be glue binding up the nut from when the fretboard was installed.

Finally, is this a bolt on neck? If not, you may want to enlist the services of a professional, as if you send this one South in the process of loosening the nut the repair bill will expand exponentially...

And the previous advice of "going slow" and not "forcing it" is very good advice.

Keep us posted.

HTC1

[D2o]

Hey – thanks for the kind words, cyn!

[cynical1]

My pleasure...when you're right you're right...and it's good to see you back...

[chuck]

what penetrating oil did you use ?
they are not all the same.

i prefer PB Blaster ... that stuff work on ancient exhaust studs , it should work on a truss rod nut

[dennyb2009]

Thanks for the replies . I have not tried the heat trick yet . It is a bolt on neck . It is not warped ( my mistake ) it is up bowed as in too much relief . It is on my first build attempt . I purchased the neck and it is very likely that my painter has caused the nut to stick because he did not mask the truss rod hole when he sprayed the clear coat . I will see if I can find some of that penetrating oil you have suggested . I used the old standby WD-40 out of desperation and convenience .I had my younger brother who works for Ekland tools, make me an elongated l shaped 4mm hex wrench si I could get better leverage and a deeper seating of the tool before I add pressure .
Thanks again every one . The guitar came out awesome ( Biased opinion ) And having this happen really sucks ! I plan on posting some pix once I get it fixed .

[cynical1]

Excess clear-coat on the truss rod sounds plausible to me. Especially is the penetrating oil was a non-starter.

A good 45-60W soldering iron held in the hex socket may help. Putting some aluminum foil under the tape to protect the finish while you work is advisable.

Keep us posted on your results.

HTC1

[dennyb2009]

Well guys nothing has worked . I have saturated the thing with a high quality penetrating oil overnight . I have held the soldering iron tip to the hex nut hole several times for up to 3 minutes ........
So far no luck what so ever . I am SO F#ING BUMMED ! The guitar looks awesome and several people have wanted to buy it . No one can believe it's my first build . But even if I wanted to sell it , which I could never do , I would have to fix it first !
So what's next ? Any suggestions ? PLEASE ?
I don't want to take off the fret board as I have put abalone bird inlay fret markers ( like P R S ) But if I must , how do I go about it ? and can the fret board be saved in the process ?
Thanks again
Denny

[D2o]

Jun 16, 2010 20:40:14 GMT -5 dennyb2009 said:

Well guys nothing has worked . I have saturated the thing with a high quality penetrating oil overnight . I have held the soldering iron tip to the hex nut hole several times for up to 3 minutes ........
So far no luck what so ever . I am SO F#ING BUMMED ! The guitar looks awesome and several people have wanted to buy it . No one can believe it's my first build . But even if I wanted to sell it , which I could never do , I would have to fix it first !
So what's next ? Any suggestions ? PLEASE ?
I don't want to take off the fret board as I have put abalone bird inlay fret markers ( like P R S ) But if I must , how do I go about it ? and can the fret board be saved in the process ?
Thanks again
Denny

Denny,

Sometimes even a nut needs a good luthier.

I think you may have reached the point where you may want to consider taking cyn's earlier sentiment to heart. Even though he was speaking in the context of this being a set neck guitar:

Jun 14, 2010 10:14:53 GMT -5 cynical1 said:

..... you may want to enlist the services of a professional, as if you send this one South in the process of loosening the nut the repair bill will expand exponentially...

While it sounds like the nut is seized badly - and now sealed against attempts to free it up - if it is nothing more than just a badly seized nut, it may be nothing a veteran professional luthier hasn't seen and dealt with before.

A luthier should be able to easily determine whether he can or cannot do it. I can't imagine the charge to loosen a seized nut would be very dear ... seek an experienced opinion and an estimate.

That's what I'd do, anyway.

D2o

[chuck]

is all of the clear gone ?
you would be amazed at what a little dried paint in a tight spot can so