I have a Fender Squier Strat. The Whammy bar is broke and looks like there is still a peice threaded in. Any tips or tricks for getting the piece out?
The easiest remedy is to buy and install a used Squier tremolo (trem) block - they are very cheap and unscrewing the bridge is less work than trying to remove a broken threaded rod from a tight and barely accessible space. If you want to increase the sustain and have a more responsive tremolo, replace the small alloy block with a solid steel block or a brass block. They aren't that much but the sustain difference is worth every penny.
There are MANY tricks to remove a threaded piece like this:
1. With a Dremel tool and a cutoff carborumdum disc cut a shallow slot in the remaining piece and use a straight bladed screw driver to remove. This can only be done if the screw is above or flush with the surface.
2. Carefully drill a small hole in the piece fairly well centered. Use an "EasyOut" to remove the broken part.
3. Carefully drill several small shallow holes on the top of the broken part in a line so as to form a slot for a screwdriver.
4. Carefully drill a hole JUST the right size into the broken part and then drive an Allen wrench into the hole to turn the broken part. The hole has to be just the right size so the wrench can peal tiny pieces off to grab the broken part.. this is tricky to get the size just right.
5. Use a detist drill to cut a slot.
In all these use a penetrating oil or CRC226 to make it easier to turn.
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