Miraphone 5050 Tuning Slide Linkage

[tonewheeler]

With all this talk on the other thread about buzzing sounds on the 5050, I began to notice one on mine. It looks like the linkage on the tuning slide.

Upon closer examination, the screws are star-shaped (not hex). It must be a common tool.

Any of you fellow 5050'ers know what type and size tool? I don't want to guess.

[pam]

Miraphone 5050 Tuning Slide Linkage

They're Torx screws, which are commonly found in automobiles and Apple desktops/laptops. Torx is more common in Europe and Asia than Phillips or Slotted screws.

You can buy individual drivers or bits, as well as multi-bit sets, at Harbor Freight, Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, Sears, etc..

Home Depot sells a set that includes 8 of the most common sizes.

(FWIW, an appropriately sized hex key will work in a Torx screw, but over time, it will strip out the head.)

[tonewheeler]

Miraphone 5050 Tuning Slide Linkage

Thanks! That's what I needed to know. Here's to hoping the ones on the Miraphone are "common".

[djwpe]

Miraphone 5050 Tuning Slide Linkage

An appropriately sized Torx driver was packed with mine in the ouch that contained the slide lube, valve oil, etc. That said, I checked mine against my other Torx drivers, and it is smaller than the T9 which is the smallest I have, so it's a T7 or T8 if I had to guess.

[Snorlax]

Miraphone 5050 Tuning Slide Linkage

Dan,
You have the knob for slide extension up by the 4th valve.
On my 5050, I have the knob by the slide.
Wonder if it makes any difference?
As I mentioned in the other thread, my rattle was with the same part, but on the tuning slide.

DAN & DON: Does your main tuning slide look like the one in the picture below?

[tonewheeler]

Miraphone 5050 Tuning Slide Linkage

Jim,

My rattle was on the linkage to this slide. I corrected the problem using the torx screw and it sounds like its fixed. I've attached a pic of mine as a reference. It looks the same as yours. You be the judge.

[djwpe]

Miraphone 5050 Tuning Slide Linkage

Mine looks the same as both. Unfortunately, my buzz (very faint, I can't call it a rattle) still exists with the stop rod removed, and the linkage isolated with extra o-rings under the ball joints.

Jim, what knob are you referring to by the fourth valve?

[tonewheeler]

Miraphone 5050 Tuning Slide Linkage

The buzz on the stop rod can be eliminated by pushing the o-ring up against guide-brace (?) hole.