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Picker Bushings
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  Ron Bushman suggests making bushings for the bottom of the picker sticks. I checked mine and somebody had put in a bushing. However, the bushing is not allowed to float or rotate. It was locked in place by the bolt that attaches the picker stick to the iron rod. The wood was still acting as the bearing surface. (By iron rod, I'm referring to the rod that attaches to the bottom of the picker stick.)
  I tapped the hole in the iron rod for a 3/8-16 threaded bolt. The bolt is about 2-3/4" long. The first inch or so is threaded, with the remainder of the length being a smooth 3/8" diameter.  This screws into the tapped hole in the iron bar. Add a lock nut and you have a solid, fixed axle for the picker stick. Next, I made brass bushings to fit the hole in the bottom of the picker sticks. The bushings are drilled to fit the above mentioned axle (i.e. 3/8 bolt). The bushing also has a flange that is 1/4" thick. The bushing is inserted into the picker stick with the flange on the side opposite the iron rod. A screw through the flange will secure the bushing to the picker stick. This will make sure the bushing turns on the axle/bolt, and doesn't just slip in the picker stick hole.
  I drilled a hole from the outside diameter/edge of the flange through to the center 3/8 diameter. This gives me a place to put a few drops of oil to lubricate this new bushing.
  I bought springs and nylon washers to add to this assembly. So here's how it will stack up.

o First, take the 3/8-16 bolt.
o Put on a spring. (This rests against the bolt head
  and will provide a gentle pressure to keep the
  picker stick in place against the iron rod.)
o Put on a nylon washer.
o Put on the picker stick with the bushing installed;
  (flange side of bushing against nylon washer/towards
   head of bolt).
o Bolt threads are now sticking out on other side of
   picker stick.
o Add another nylon washer. This will ride against
   the iron rod.
o Thread bolt into the iron rod and add a lock nut to
   hold it in place.

If the picker sticks need some play to operate, I'll drill out the bushings to allow a little more clearence.

I realize that for a purist this would not be the proper way to do a restoration, but it isn't rocket science and should provide a long term solution.
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