Gary, To my knowledge, there is nothing different about removing a Wurlitzer spinet action and most others. The main thing, of course, is to release the stickers/abstracts (whatever) from the ends of the keys. Then you need to tie them up some way so they won't flop around, hang up on the ends of the keys, etc. and possibly break some. I used to use a stretchable tie-down type of thing with hooks on the ends to hook around the end action brackets; like the type you might see on luggage carriers on top of cars. Then pull the strap up at the center two sections (or wherever you have the room) to pull the stickers away from the keys, tilt the action back and lift it out. The main precaution is to be careful of the dampers hanging on the action posts, especially at the bass tenor break. I have seen spinets with so little clearance between the keys and action, that the keys have to be removed in order to get the action out! If I remember correctly, Wurlitzer and some others have hooks cast into the action brackets so you can use a rod of some kind to push the stickers up and then place the rod into those hooks. This holds everything up very nicely and simplifies removing the action. Schaff (& probably others) sells a sectional rod designed for this purpose. It comes in 4 pieces, designed to be screwed together. In case you're interested, the part number is 3339 & sells for $13.36 a set in their new Tool Catalog. If you have to do much work on spinets, it would be well worth the cost. As far as time needed, to be safe I would allow app. 30 minutes for removal and replacement. Most of that time is spent releasing and replacing the stickers on the keys. After replacement, it would also be a good idea to go through quickly and check the lost motion adjustment. Invariably, some will change. If this is a piano that has the U type hooks on the ends of the keys, be sure you get them hooked back up correctly into the rubber grommets. It's so nice just to be able to *talk* about spinets, because I rarely have to work on any of them now! <G> Hope this helps. Good luck. >I need to remove the action of a Wurlitzer drop action piano in order to >repin or free up some sluggish flanges. It will be the first one I've worked >on. It seems Wurlitzers are not common (fortunately?) in South Africa. The >removal appears to involve loosening all the abstracts. Before tackling this >job I would appreciate any cautions/hints from those with experience. In >giving a quotation for this work how much time is normal for removal and >replacement. > >Gary Isaac >Umtata, South Africa _____________________________________ Avery Todd, RPT Moores School of Music University of Houston Houston, TX 77204-4893 713-743-3226 atodd@uh.edu _____________________________________
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