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I'm finishing up a 15 ukulele build and installing the tuners. Thought I was going high end and bought Schaller GrandTune tuners (open back) for the ukes. About half of them work great and the other half vary from "sort of rough" to "you can't hardly turn them" after installation. Anybody else ever experienced this? It seems to be worse after installation which makes me wonder if the collars are rubbing too tightly or that there is some other form of friction. When I place the tuners in the peghead tuner post holes before they are screwed down they seem to rotate okay. I'm willing to accept the fact that this may be some type of installation issue, but I have never had this happen before.
I'm stuck on trying to figure this out.
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

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Formerly know as Mandodiddle.

If you’re worried it’s an installation issue, remove one that turns well from the peghead. Remove one that is hard to turn. Install each into the other’s hole. Now test them again.

I’ve had a few that were difficult to turn and I even returned a few sets. And, yes, I verified it was not an install issue. Over the years I’ve also run into problems with Waverleys too. I’ve since started using the Schertler tuners and like them a lot.


Steve

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I have used a lot of Schaller GrandTune tuners on mandolins and a few on guitars. They are very sensitive to installation and you need to get it spot on or they will be stiff to turn. If they are ok off the instrument, but stiff after installation then installation is most likely the problem. I almost gave up on them, too much bad language involved. However, I am still using them with better success now, but I need to be super accurate with the drilling. I tried Stew Mac's drilling template, but the results were no better than the way I was doing it. Next set the installation will use CNC to get the spacing and line up spot on. So far I have only had to return one set.