Grrr... can't seem to re-tighten my endpin jack!

[inebriate]

So after the umpeenth time of taking my strap on and off my LV-03RE (w/Baggs Element) for church, the endpin jack finally seems to have loosened itself to the point of no return.  Usually I give it a little turn until it's tight again and that would suffice -- today, as I removed the strap, I felt it give a little and now the button isn't flush with the body anymore -- there's about 1/16" give as it wiggles around, and turning just turns the entire jack inside of the body.  I took off all the strings and managed to fit enough of my arm in there to feel the jack on the inside, but I can't see what I'm doing.

I have a bunch of tools around, include Allen wrenches in both std/metric and long pliers -- is this something I can fix by myself?

edit: tried holding the jack from inside and turning from the outside, but it seems like it's one piece...

edit: sorry rob, i'm a little confused, since i can't really see from the inside when i put my hand in.
so i can pull the entire jack + pin out from the outside?

i can't reply to my own thread, keeps saying i just posted 60 seconds ago (stupid fios)

[z-clay]

You should be able to hold the jack by hand inside the guitar while tightening the endpin bolt. If it doesnt snug right up...... I'd take it to a luthier. Also, be careful not to over tighten as this could damage the wood.

Good Luck

[unclrob]

Make sure that the part that is sticking out isn't out to far.I use a long dowl that I can put into the jack soI can guide it thru.Pull the whole pin out make sure the nut that is on the inside is at the right spot.One drop of nail polish will lock that nut.Add a lock washer,pull the jack back thru.While pressing on the jack from inside re nut it a tad past snug.This should solve the problem.As always if I can help I'm a phone call away.

[Zohn]

   I agree with the sound advise from Rob.
I also remember seeing these "Jack the gripper" tools in the Stewmac Catalogue before http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for:_Electronics,_pickups/Jack_The_Gripper.html?tab=Pictures#details, although not in flesh. It holds the inside firm while fastening the nut. The locking action is created by the knurled boss on the tip which is mounted off-centre to the shaft of the tool. In theory a great design for gripping while fastening or loosening, but in practice....
Does anyone have any experience using those? - obviously the inside nut must be in the correct position so that the correct amount of thread protrudes on the outside for the outer nut as explained by Rob.

[rockstar_not]

Some endpin jacks have 2 small holes drilled through the threaded tube that sticks through the body from the inside to the out.  The purpose of these is to put a very small screwdriver shaft through them, after you've put the nut on, so that you can hold the jack while tightening the thin nut, before putting on the threaded strap button nut.  Does yours have this?  You'll have to remove the strap button nut to see the holes.  You can also use a wound string threaded through those holes as well.  In this case, you'll have to make sure the threaded jack tube protrudes far enough out from the body of the guitar to see them.

I seem to remember my factory supplied endpin jack (with a Fishman system) had this, but the jack that came with my K+K did not.  I ended up re-using the Fishman jack because of this fact when I installed my K+K.

Let me know if you want me to take a photo of this on my Larry.  I can post it here for clarity.