Anyone have any tips for removing the broken tip of a trem arm from a Strat???

[Tommy Horchata]

I can't for the life of me figure out how to do this!!!    There's no access hole in the back.


I tried to drill it out, but then the bit broke and this happened 



I'm a bit frustrated here.

[mredhot]

maybe find a pencil shaped magnet and see if it would be able to twist it, how did this happen

[Tommy Horchata]

maybe find a pencil shaped magnet and see if it would be able to twist it, how did this happen

I actually tried that.  It just made the piece stick to the bridge, too.

It happened as I was playing a song 'cause I have 5 springs set on the trem in the back so I can use the trem, but it doesn't make unison bends and double stops go out of tune when I'm not using the trem.

[Ursoluno]

Remove the tremolo springs from the block.

Separate the block from the bridge plate/saddles.

Once you do that, the block should fall out of the guitar.  The broken bit of the tremolo bar will still be lodged in the block, but it will be a tad bit more exposed.  Grab the nub with a pair of pliers and twist.

I've had the same thing happen on my Strat...

...several times.

[Tommy Horchata]

Separate the block from the bridge plate/saddles.

thanks for that.  I didn't realize they were detatchable

[Bryherb]

Tommy,
You probably have to use a screw extractor which looks like a tapered drill bit with twisting dull flutes. How you use one is that you get a hole punch and punch a hole in the middle of the broken off arm in your trem block. Make sure you get it dead center. Then you drill a hole about half the diameter of the broken off piece. Drill down about 1/8" to 3/16". I don't have to tell you to be very careful and keep the hole centered. Then you use the correct sized screw exractor in a tap handle and you screw it in counter-clockwise. Eventually the screw extractor flutes grabs onto the walls of the drilled hole and the broken off section unscrews right out. I know, easier said than done. But since there is a broken off drill bit in the hole, looks like it's time for a new Fender Am Std trem block. Sorry about your situation.

[Tommy Horchata]

Separate the block from the bridge plate/saddles.

thanks for that.  I didn't realize they were detatchable

I used this method last night and it worked perfectly

thanks for the help!  Who knew I would find the right Strat fix method on the offset forum 

now off to the tech to get a setup done before the gig tonight!

[Ryan]

I was just about to suggest pulling the block, that same topic came up at the Harmony Central forum this morning. Glad it worked for you.