Schaff Tuning Levers

[Joe And Penny Goss]

Hi Jeff,
It is likely that the end of the shaft was too long or the hole depth in the
head too shallow so that a firm seating could not be made. Switching back
and fourth between maker's parts can give poor results for both company
products,
Tip to head is the worst example as the thread might be the same per inch
and just as big in radius but the thread depth or hight different. The shaft
to head problem can be caused by either tool being used to make the part
being slightly worn.
Joe Goss
imatunr@srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Tanner" <jtanner@mozart.sc.edu>
To: "College Technicians" <caut@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 8:08 AM
Subject: Schaff Tuning Levers


> Hi all,
> I'm wondering if anyone else has ever encountered the problem with
> Schaff Tuning levers that I have.  I recently ordered a #16 nylon
> handle extension lever for my student assistant.  He's buying it for
> his own personal tool, so it ought to be something that will last him a
> while.
>
> The problem I've had is that, besides the sloppy fit of the tip on
> tuning pins I've fussed about before, the threads on the shaft and
> inside the head somehow don't work together they way they should.  When
> you first use it, the head begins working itself loose from the shaft,
> and continues to do so after you continue retightening it.  Soon, the
> threads on the tip of the shaft have become scarred up, and inside the
> head as well.
>
> It is not a cross-threading problem.  It seems to have more to do with
> the tapering of the threads not matching up, so that the tip of the
> shaft tightens down, but the head is not tight.  The threads on the tip
> of the shaft simply grind away into the head.  It gets so bad that you
> can't use it, and it starts happening with the first piano you tune.
>
> This has been a real problem with every Schaff tuning lever I've ever
> used.  I own another Schaff lever (#6) I bought about 10 years ago I've
> never been able to use because of this problem (and the tip problem).
> I complained to them about it then, and they replaced it, but they
> wanted to act like I'd cross threaded the head onto the shaft.  But
> that is not the problem.  We had an apprentice model (#8) at my alma
> mater for the students to use and it did exactly the same thing.
>
> Anybody else seen this? or am I doing something wrong?  It has never
> occurred with the APSCO hammers I bought.  But I can't buy from APSCO
> anymore.  What to do about it?  If I send it back, they'll just replace
> it with another one which will do the same thing.  I went down that
> road with my Schaff lever 10 years ago.  And there's no other domestic
> tuning hammer manufacturer that an apprentice can afford to buy from,
> and the imports cost twice as much.
>
> Oh, this doesn't include the fact that they increased the price of this
> hammer by more than 25% last month (a week before I ordered this one).
>
> But I mainly wanted to find out if I'm the only one having this problem
> before I contact Schaff about it.
>
> Thanks,
> Jeff
>
> Jeff Tanner, RPT
> School Of Music
> University of South Carolina
>
> _______________________________________________
> caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives