Tech/maintenance Help! BetterSax tenor roller pin/rod

[SaxDon]

Hi guys - I've been playing a BetterSax tenor for around a year. It's a great value sax (keywork and tone-wise). The only problem has been a pesky rod/pin - the Eb roller keeps falling out as the pin slowly comes loose through playing. I've been fortunate enough to either catch it before it got too bad and screw the thing back in, or find the roller and pin on the floor and put it back together. Unfortunately, this happened during a gig - I found the roller but the pin / rod has long gone now.

The retailer where I bought it from haven't been helpful - initially told me they would contact Conn-Selmer (who I think make the BetterSax?) and try to source one of these things. I never heard backs after a few weeks contacted them again, only be told that I need to travel up to the London store and the Tech can try a few pins they have in stock to see what works. Problem is I'm 3 hours away from London and it will cost me a load of dosh to get there as well!

Does anyone know how I might be able to sort this? Cheers.

 

[mizmar]

That's irritating!
I have one of those and found one lose roller pin when I first checked it over. No problem since.

I don't have calipers; but I took out my Eb pin - maybe someone with spare parts might recognise it and have a spare to put in an envelope?

HTH

 

[SaxDon]

That's super helpful. Thanks @mizmar !

 

[Pete Effamy]

If Mizmar hasn’t hit the nail / rod on the head then can’t you offer to buy the different sized rods and ask them to pop them in the post? £5?

 

[Colin the Bear]

Perhaps something here will fit.

Saxophone Repair Tool Set with Screws Tools Kit Woodwind Instrument Accessories | eBay UK

Because the unpaid dispute will not be closed automatically, and we may ignore it. People always bought together with.

ebay.us

A little something non permanent on the thread will stop it unscrewing. There's many a specialist thread lock product available, but a little clear nail varnish will do it.

 

[mizmar]

Just to add, the C roller should be identical - at a push, you could send that to the shop and they could match it and send you back 3?
I don't know what the turn round of the Mail is these days; oh for the days when you could give a shiny farthing to a likely looking street urchin to run the small parcel to the tradesman

 

[GCinCT]

oh for the days when you could give a shiny farthing to a likely looking street urchin to run the small parcel to the tradesman

Did you grow up in a Dickens novel? 😂

 

[mizmar]

Did you grow up in a Dickens novel? 😂

The Pickwick Papers, Page 92. That's me.

 

[skeller047]

These horns are made in China, and all the factories there use standard size screws. If you are handy, get one of these from Amazon, I’ll bet there’s one in there that will fit. Amazon.com: Kodrily 92Pcs Saxophone Repair Parts Replacement, Metal Alto Sax Repair Maintenance Kit, Complete DIY Maintenance Tools for Wind Instruments with Rollers, Screws, Nuts : Musical Instruments

You might have to shorten a screw, which would mean cutting a new slot. Failing that, find a local shop that repairs saxophones, especially if they sell modern student horns, they can find a screw that will fit. Or bring them a repair kit like the above.

 

[Ivan]

The Pickwick Papers

Ode to an Expired Frog

 

[SaxDon]

Thanks so much to you all. I’ll have a good look at these tomorrow. I’m currently watching Derek Nash and his band playing tonight 🎷…. Defo worth catch Derek doing his Stevie Wonder tour 🎶🎤🎹