Dunlop GCB-95 Crybaby Wah Squeaking - Help?

[Tony Trout]

I have an older (80s?) Crybaby wah that is squeaking like crazy when I rock the pedal back and forth.

Can someone help me with how to repair it? I'm a noob when it comes to this stuff and I need detailed instructions. I saw a thread here by Ron Vogel from 2011 on how to repair it but the attached pics were non-viewable.

I would be very appreciative and so would my ears - the squeaking is annoying!

Thanks,
Tony Trout

[Jazz P Bass]

There are only two possibilities, mechanically.
- the pivot pin needs to be oiled.
- the sweep potentiometer is misaligned with the rack, or it is bad.

[Mick Bailey]

There are only two possibilities, mechanically.
- the pivot pin needs to be oiled.
- the sweep potentiometer is misaligned with the rack, or it is bad.

In addition to Jazz P's suggestion, which should be your first check;

1. Peer under the pedal; see that leaf spring that bears against the pivot pin? - that will squeak if it runs dry and I like to grease them here.
2. Remove the bottom plate. At the back of the rack is a plastic P clip. This needs to be lightly greased.
3. The Clarostat pots have a carbon brush that can squeek against the track. I'm just experimenting with different types of contact lubriacant to find the best cure for this.
4. The pot shaft can dry out, especially if someone has attempted to clean the track and washed out the grease. I use a single drop of 3M 'Tartan' PTFE oil to fix this.

Another area for squeaks is if the leaf spring is too tight against the pivot pin or the pin has come loose at the ends where it should be firmly pressed into the pedal casting. Rock the pedal and see if the pin moves relative to the casting - it shouldn't. Sometimes the pin can sieze in the base housing and move in the treadle - the opposite of what it should be.

My money is on the leaf spring/pivot area.

Sometimes when you grease these the pedal will flop about too much (good for funk playing). Some players don't like this - they want the pedal to stay cocked in a certain position. The spring tension can be adjusted inside the casing by tightening one or both of the screws.

[Tony Trout]

In addition to Jazz P's suggestion, which should be your first check;

1. Peer under the pedal; see that leaf spring that bears against the pivot pin? - that will squeak if it runs dry and I like to grease them here.
2. Remove the bottom plate. At the back of the rack is a plastic P clip. This needs to be lightly greased.
3. The Clarostat pots have a carbon brush that can squeek against the track. I'm just experimenting with different types of contact lubriacant to find the best cure for this.
4. The pot shaft can dry out, especially if someone has attempted to clean the track and washed out the grease. I use a single drop of 3M 'Tartan' PTFE oil to fix this.

Another area for squeaks is if the leaf spring is too tight against the pivot pin or the pin has come loose at the ends where it should be firmly pressed into the pedal casting. Rock the pedal and see if the pin moves relative to the casting - it shouldn't. Sometimes the pin can sieze in the base housing and move in the treadle - the opposite of what it should be.

My money is on the leaf spring/pivot area.

Sometimes when you grease these the pedal will flop about too much (good for funk playing). Some players don't like this - they want the pedal to stay cocked in a certain position. The spring tension can be adjusted inside the casing by tightening one or both of the screws.

Thanks for the suggestions, Mickey! I'll try them out!! Much appreciated!