A/B Pedal creaking Emmons Push Pull 1968

[David Gram]

I just got a 68' cut tail with wooden pedalbar and it sounds and plays incredible. One small thing that is bugging me is a creaking noise coming from the A/B pedals when releasing the pedal slowly (C pedal doesn't have it) I've checked where the noise is coming from and it's definitely in the pedals themselves. When i engage the mechanism by hand with the rod without the pedal it doesn't make a sound. So my guess is probably some wear on A/B pedals I've tried adding a bit of lubricant to the pedals but that didn't really do much yet in fairness i did not remove the pedals yet. Anybody here that has experience with this?

I love this old guitar and some mechanical noise is part of the deal but it sounds like i'm opening and closing a rusty garden fence everytime i'm playing a ballad at the moment.

Thanks!

[Dennis Detweiler]

I had that problem before and it was the ball and pedal rod connector. Try lubing the ball and connector.

[Bobby D. Jones]

I 2nd Mr. Detweiler's suggestion.
A ball connector can make some bad squeaks, And sound like the shaft connecting the pedal to the board is the problem.

[David Gram]

Thanks for your suggestions upon further inspection i found that the inside bottom of the hook of the pedal rod was a bit scuffed and worn. After applying some lubricant the creaking is fully gone!

Is there a way to smooth that part out with fine grit sandpaper to get rid of the scuff or would a new pedal rod be in order.

Thanks!

David

[Bob Carlucci]

take some fine sandpaper to it and make it a bit smoother,then use a tiny dab of white grease, [or even plain old Vaseline will work fine], where the parts contact each other, and don't worry about it. It will probably never squeak again.

[Dennis Detweiler]

Ah yes, I forgot that I found the same thing on the B pedal hook several years ago. I used a small round file and filed the small worn flaw out of the crook of it. I found it by gently pulling inward on the rod while working the pedal and it would stop clicking.