Adjusting the tension in a wah rocker

[YouAre]

Well.....i figured out how to take off the top of the rocker thanks to you guys.....now i ran into another problem.....

i want to be able to manually adjust the tension of the rocker. I'm sure that strap that goes over the axle (in the vox/dunlop style casing) holds it down for tension, but adjusting it by adjusting how tight that strap is held down, would be a bitch (considering how the head of the screws is on the top side, under the rocker) Taking it off is easy....but adjusting? I know dunlop's newer pedals have an adjustable tension by way of an allen head bolt under the rocker.

I came up with my DIY version, and i'd like you guys to tell me if if you see any faults.



Oh and by base of pedal....i meant the top of the base



With my idea, the bolt pushes into the axle, but the felt is there to avoid any nasty grinding.

What do you guys thing?
~Murad

[Paul Marossy]

I have my doubts that will work satisfactorily...

[YouAre]

Paul i was hoping you'd chime in, having built multiple wah rockers before...What makes you think it won't work well?

[YouAre]

also i see that the dunlop calls it "adjusting the torque" so tension was probably the wrong word to use....

[GibsonGM]

The felt would probably get eaten pretty quickly...why not try a poly block or something, on the end of the bolt?

I have had luck just tightening the tension arm from inside, using a deep socket...the screw has never turned on me (maybe I'm just lucky...).   

[YouAre]

The felt would probably get eaten pretty quickly...why not try a poly block or something, on the end of the bolt?

I have had luck just tightening the tension arm from inside, using a deep socket...the screw has never turned on me (maybe I'm just lucky...).   

a poly block? whats that? Can you link me to an example?

[Paul Marossy]

That's exactly what I was thinking - the felt would get chewed up too easily. I was also thinking along the lines of some kind of tough plastic bushing. I think it would need to have a "half-pipe" profile for it to be most effective. I think that could work...

[petemoore]

  Various height chunks of memory foam, stuffed between the case and treadle..
  Figure out a way to dampen the pinion gear rack, as long as it's not pressing super hard on the pot gear.
  Here's one, lol, run an RC car [1/12 scale or so] shock absorber, 2.5'' travel [measure your pinion travel] and mount the ends to the treadle and case 'fittings'. Looks like there might be room to go right next to the pinion.
  I was thinking strap brake, but that might be tough to get right, probably not enough surface area even going around the hinge tube.
  A wedge pry's the existing strap up into the hinge harder, I think I did that with a wedge of wood once, it worked a little bit. Get something like a bolt that will put a more permanent and serious pry up...dunno..just rambling again.
  I now have my SS in wah case [for sweep speed control], treadle is 'double sprung' one spring pulls the pot string [like EB Volume pedal], another spring [automotive drum brake spring] about center of treadle and case [in front of pivot] brings the speed to med-nice if I hit switch and let go, stabs of toe down increase...then decreases speed slowly...but I have to hold the heel down for slow slows.