Damper Spring Replacement

[Lance Lafargue]

Ken,
I did a couple dozen Schwander flange hammer spring cords the other day
(same process).  I put a drill bit (slightly smaller than hole) in a drill
press chuck-backwards.  Then, I just pushed them out.  I also do this when
replacing damper guide rail bushings.  Make sure you have something
underneath the piece to support it so it doesn't break under the pressure. 
I put a piece of wood underneath the spot where the bit came down with a
hole in it a little larger than the bit, etc.  This supported the piece
enough.  This makes it very fast.  Hope this helps.  
Lance Lafargue, RPT
New Orleans Chapter
Covington, LA.
lafargue@iamerica.net

----------
> From: DHENNESS@aol.com
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Damper Spring Replacement
> Date: Tuesday, June 30, 1998 12:29 PM
> 
> I have recently started replacing damper springs as a matter of course
when I
> replace dampers on old uprights.  I am doing this because I have had
> unacceptable results in the past with new dampers operated by 60- to
80-year-
> old springs.  I have tried replacing the springs only, and replacing the
> entire flange assembly.  In both cases the job cost way more than I
thought it
> should (about 5 1/2 hrs for springs only, roughly same $ in parts & labor
for
> flanges).  The time problem in replacing the springs was in getting the
old
> cord out.  I tried pushing it out with center pin pliers and drilling it
out,
> but nothing seemed to work well.  I hope there are some tricks of the
trade
> out there that I am unaware of.
> 
> Thanks,
> Ken Zahringer, RPT
> Columbia, MO