The screw adjust tension. Loosening the nut will do nothing as there is a pin between the "gearbox" and the outside of the peg box that prevents it from spinning.

Jill, when my tuners have seemed to have too much give, I've tightened at the screw end of the button and it works.  So, as the first way to address the opposite problem, I second Dusty's suggestion.  

The first thing to try would be that screw on the end of the button.  It probably won't take much. 

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Dusty T., Northern California
Site Moderator

As a musician, you have to keep one foot back in the past and one foot forward into the future.
-- Dizzy Gillespie

Hi friends, I have Schaller planetary geared tuners on a pre-owned dulcimer that I purchased recently. They are extremely "stiff" -  or have lots of tension when tuning/re-tuning (and right now I'm changing strings). Is there a way to reduce the tension (difficulty) in turning the tuning button? Is it with the screw on the end of the button? Do I need to loosen the nut on the inside of the pegbox as well?

Thanks!