Hot Rails threads worn out

[chopperferrari]

Hi I got a used Hot Rails on reverb, I went to install however the screws spin in the brass inserts. On close inspection I can see the thread is mostly brown. Is it possible to replace them? Or has anyone else worked out a solution?

 

[Securb]

chopperferrari there are a couple of methods. If you are holding the pickup with the coils facing the ceiling, you will notice the screw holes on the plate have a dimple on the bottom. Place the pickup on a flat piece of metal with the dimple facing up. You then need to tap down the dimple gently with a hammer. This will hopefully close up the hole in the dimple a bit. At this point, if the hole is too closed to accept the original screw, gently open it a bit with a fine thread drywall type of screw gently turning it in the new tighter hole.

 

[Aceman]

Can you get a new plate?

 

[jeremy]

you mean replace the bottom of the pup? sure, it'll cost as much as a used hot rail

 

[Ewizard]

Pictures or it didn't happen...

 

[chopperferrari]

Here are some pics -

https://ibb.co/Lv0dw2Q
https://ibb.co/djcMVpS

<a href="https://ibb.co/Lv0dw2Q"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/521hDfY/IMG-0986.jpg" alt="IMG-0986" border="0"></a>
<a href="https://ibb.co/djcMVpS"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/FmW3yY9/IMG-0985.jpg" alt="IMG-0985" border="0"></a>

 

[Clint 55]

Stick epox in there and re drill.

 

[chopperferrari]

Thanks - so just fill the whole thing ring with epoxy and then drill slightly smaller than the threads needed, let the screw do the work for making a thread?

 

[Securb]

Thanks - so just fill the whole thing ring with epoxy and then drill slightly smaller than the threads needed, let the screw do the work for making a thread?

I would tap it down first and refill the hole as a last result. If I were going to refill the hole and retap I would use a tiny bead of steel putty rather than epoxy.

 

[chopperferrari]

I would tap it down first and refill the hole as a last result. If I were going to refill the hole and retap I would use a tiny bead of steel putty rather than epoxy.

Cool - what would you use as a point to tap down with?

 

[Securb]

For myself, I put the pickup dimple up on the flat of my vice and then tap it down gently with an everyday hammer. Give it a slight tap and then see if the screw starts to bite, If not, give it another tap. If this closes it too much, use a tiny screw to open it up a little bit tuning it very gently. If this does not work, you might be able to go up a size with the screws. Or use some a tiny bead of steel putty to fill the hole redrill, then retap as a last resort.

 

[chopperferrari]

Thanks. However the hot rails don’t have they kind of screw. They’re imbedded in the plastic over with no overhang.

 

[Securb]

Crap that's right. I apologize for some reason I was thinking P Rails, not Hotrails. I would get longer screws and put an extra nut under the pickup as a quick fix.

 

[larryguitar]

Are they really stripped, or cross-threaded? If someone drilled them for through-mounting, they'll be harder to fix. If you have the correct size tap you could try running it through there, or find a heli-coil of the right size and make it better than new.

Larry

 

[Clint 55]

Thanks - so just fill the whole thing ring with epoxy and then drill slightly smaller than the threads needed, let the screw do the work for making a thread?

Yes. I still think this is effective. Epoxy is extremely hard.

 

[chopperferrari]

I used epoxy and it worked a treat! Thanks!

 

[Clint 55]

No prob!