Problem With Ernie Ball 6166 Mono Volume Pedal

[ronnieanand]

Hi,
I bought an Ernie Ball 6166 Mono Volume Pedal about 18 months back. It was working like a dream till about 6 months back.

I use the Volume Pedal in the beginning of my chain, so that it doubles up as my Guitar Volume Knob. I press the pedal down to play semi clean Rhythm Parts and the pedal goes all the way up to its full position for Lead passages.....As of late I see this strange problem.....

When I press the volume pedal towards the heel down position and then get back to the full position, it suddenly has lost all the gain and volume even in it's full position. When I get the volume pedal towards the heel down position again and then get the volume pedal to the full position extremely slowly, then the gain and volume are back.....Otherwise there's a 50% drop in gain even in full position if I try using it normally......

Please Help....

 

[jongitarz]

This should point you in the right direction http://www.ernieball.com/faq_content.php?subjectcode=vol_pedals

 

[ronnieanand]

The FAQ page does not answer my question. Could you please help me Sir.....

 

[jongitarz]

The FAQ section explains how to send the pedal in for repairs.

 

[ebenny]

The problem described is exactly what I just fixed. It has been driving me crazy.

You need a very small Allen wrench and a large paper clip bent to act as a hook.

If you go to You-Tube and search 'ernie ball volume pedal repair', there will be clear instructions on how to disassemble and reassemble the mechanisms.

Remove all four screws at the underside of the pedal base, and that will release the front panel with the inputs as well as the mounting for the potentiometer. The whole spring and chord system will fall apart, and that is fine.

Although removing the pedal from the base makes it easier to remove the pot mounting, I do not recommend it because putting it back together is a real drag.

Look at the brass spool, on the pot shaft, that the chord was wrapped around. It has a small Allen screw hole that keeps it tight on the potentiometer's shaft. Try moving it past the limits of the pot's full turn in each direction. I'll bet it is a bit loose, and sticky. That is the strange resistance you have been feeling. As the semi-loose spool turns, it sometimes catches and sometimes slips. That is wear on the shaft that has progressed over time, but it will work like new after you tighten it.

Now tighten that baby real good!

Follow the You-Tube instructions for reassembly, and be patient with yourself.