[ Steve Bentley wrote in 010408 MMDigest: ]

> What I find now is the pins are harder to break loose and a cracking
> noise is heard each time ...  it won't "fine tune."

I'm sure others will correct me, but the problem may not be with the
pins, but with the strings sticking on the bridge.  As you tighten and
loosen the tuning pin, you are changing the tension on the string.
The tension on the speaking portion of the string and the non-speaking
portion connected to the tuning pin change easily.  However, there is
unrelieved tension between (across) the bridge to the far hitch pin.
What you think of as the tuning pin cracking is really this tension
relieving itself.

Don't worry, its normal.  In fact, experienced tuners strive to relieve
this tension as it makes the tuning job last longer.

Good luck,
Jim Cook