[wrndln]

To try to prevent breaking the gooseneck, I have a piece of plate glass that I wraparound a piece of relative fine sandpaper (like 150 or 220 grit) and sand the head where the gooseneck fits and the bottom of the gooseneck. Plate glass is polished completely flat (I use to work in a glass shop). After sanding, the surfaces should be completely shinny and totally flat.
Rusty Nelson