Little annoyed with tuning key

So I was playing my bass and the E string kept going out of tune. Looking a bit closer, and when I loosened the string the barrel turned, but when tightening it did not move. Bit odd I thought, so I removed the string and had a look and the barrel came out in my hand. It had sheered through!
Now I don't over-tighten the string so can't understand it. Has it happened to anyone else?

I have decided to replace all the tuners, and are going for Gotoh GB350 Res-o-lite.
I also decided I might as well replace all the strings at the same time, and am going for D'Addario NYXL.

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Matt85 · 36-40, M

I'm glad you're able to fix it. No musician should be without their intrument for any length of time.

WelshLovely · 46-50, F

I've never had that happen on my string bass, but I did once have the tail wire snap causing the tension on the strings to all suddenly release at the same time. Thank god for heavy duty concert music stands or I'd have been missing my head from the tailpiece connecting with me instead of that. Really scary!

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aloneinUK · 51-55, M

@WelshLovely Do you still play?

WelshLovely · 46-50, F

@aloneinUK Not for a long time. I keep saying I should pick it up again, but life happened....

aloneinUK · 51-55, M

@WelshLovely I didn't play my bass for many years either, but life changed and I had the time and nobody telling me to leave it under the stairs!

LadyBronte · 56-60, F

I've not had the trouble, but I always worry about my cello doing that very thing! And I wouldn't know how to fix it! Glad yours is back in working condition.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@LadyBronte You won't be able to make a replacement tuning-peg without the appropriate tools, primarily a lathe. You'd need either buy a replacement and fit it yourself, or take the instrument to a specialist repairer.

LadyBronte · 56-60, F

@ArishMell I would have to take it in for repair. I don't use a lathe even though I have access to one.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@LadyBronte I'd probably need do the same. I'd trust the manufactured item more than my repair attempt!

ArishMell · 70-79, M

I don't know the material or how it was made, but to fracture in normal use suggests a fundamental weakness in the component, either from poorly-selected material, or a design or machining fault.

I can't imagine it was die-cast from a brittle alloy. If machined from solid bar it may have had a sharp corner or groove to concentrate to stress at that point.