Ball and socket joints
- hyperbolica
- Posts: 3990
- Joined: Mar 23, 2018
I need some replacement parts for bass bone linkages. One socket is slipping off the ball a little too often, seems like it is time to replace.
Any idea where to get a set of 4? The mating ball is 0.1525" diameter, 3.87 mm. The male thread is 0.100" OD.
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Any idea where to get a set of 4? The mating ball is 0.1525" diameter, 3.87 mm. The male thread is 0.100" OD.
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- AtomicClock
- Posts: 1094
- Joined: Oct 19, 2023
Du-bro Ball Link Sockets #188. I use these on my Todd Clontz linkage.
I measure my rod (outside of the threads) at .08". So if one of us is a little off, it'll fit. My ball is spot-on (0.151").
I measure my rod (outside of the threads) at .08". So if one of us is a little off, it'll fit. My ball is spot-on (0.151").
- Crazy4Tbone86
- Posts: 1654
- Joined: Jan 14, 2020
There are actually minute differences between ball and socket joints that claim to be the same size. For example: for years, I used the “Great Planes” brand (parts for remote control airplanes). When I could no longer get that brand, I switched to DuBro, which are a couple of thousandths of an inch larger. Not liking the fit, I changed my ball joints to the DuBro as well. Most of these ball posts out in the wild are a 2/56 thread, some are a 2mm thread (very close in size and thread pitch). If you are a do-it-yourself person, you can order the taps fo a few bucks and complete the conversion to an exact size ball post.
If the nylon sockets are slightly too large, there are other tricks as well. Here are a couple:
1. Use a thick tuning slide grease in the socket. It will fill in the socket and reduce the play.
2. Use thick tuning slide grease PLUS a ver small amount soft filler in the socket to reduce the play. I have used a microscopic amount of cotton as a filler. I have also used a very small (1/16 of an inch square) of paper towel as a filler.
If the nylon sockets are slightly too large, there are other tricks as well. Here are a couple:
1. Use a thick tuning slide grease in the socket. It will fill in the socket and reduce the play.
2. Use thick tuning slide grease PLUS a ver small amount soft filler in the socket to reduce the play. I have used a microscopic amount of cotton as a filler. I have also used a very small (1/16 of an inch square) of paper towel as a filler.