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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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!

aloneinUK · 51-55, M

@WelshLovely Oh that sounds like a scary experience. Glad you weren't hurt

Harmonium1923 · 51-55, M

@WelshLovely It’s all about that bass. I had no idea you played.

WelshLovely · 46-50, F

@aloneinUK Yep, it was in the middle of an afternoon dress rehearsal for an evening concert and the bang it made scared the hell out of everyone - it sounded like a gunshot, which isn't exactly commonplace here!

aloneinUK · 51-55, M

@WelshLovely Were you able to repair it in time for the concert?

WelshLovely · 46-50, F

@aloneinUK Luckily I knew a man who could.....with a wire coat hanger of all things 😂😂

aloneinUK · 51-55, M

@WelshLovely Oh that was really handy.

WelshLovely · 46-50, F

@aloneinUK Yep, it was my first gig as principal bass and I was too busy worrying about whether a temporary fix would work to get nervous, so it actually helped in a weird kind of way!

aloneinUK · 51-55, M

@WelshLovely You will never forget that performance, not just your first as principal, but also the self destructing instrument.

WelshLovely · 46-50, F

@aloneinUK You're not wrong there!!

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!