Noisy Yamaha action

[Tom Driscoll]

David ,Interesting problem. I've never heard of a sap problem on keys. It's
of course like shooting darts at a dartboard  making suggestions from afar,
but focusing on whippens makes sense to me. I would experiment on the worst
offender and only perform one treatment or repair procedure at a time. It is
certainly more time consuming to keep removing and installing the part, but
you will know exactly what was causing your symptom this way . As for lube
on balance rail holes after easing, I've always concentrated on the pin ,
but perhaps protek on the wood could be worth a try. One noise I've noticed
on some asian pianos is a click on jack return from hard jack reg.
punchings. Clearly not your primary concern here , but you mentioned overall
noise . Also temp. swap the whippen on the noisest note with one from the
quietest  and see if the noise follows the whip or not. Tom Driscoll
----- Original Message -----
From: David Love <davidlovepianos@hotmail.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2001 9:15 PM
Subject: Noisy Yamaha action


> List:
>
> I'm working on a Yamaha C5 c1979. I just replaced the hammers and shanks.
> Piano sounds great.  But, the action is very noisy.  Two types of noises
> seem to be there:  First, there is a sort of click that one frequently
hears
> when a note played or even tapped.  Interestingly, the noise does not
occur
> if you keep playing the note, only on the first blow.  In a discussion
with
> another tech, he informed me that some Yamaha keys tend to leach sap onto
> the balance rail pin creating a sticky residue that (when the pin is too
> tight) makes a noise (clicking type) when the key is first played.  The
> noise does not continue with repeated blows because the contact has, in
> effect, been broken.  Once the key rests for a bit, this contact sets up
> again and the noise will again be heard when the key is next played.  Some
> of the balance rail pins are, in fact, a bit tight.  I have not heard this
> theory before and would be interested in some comments if there are those
> who have.  I can certainly ease at the balance rail, but if this noise is
in
> part because of some sort of residue, what can the pins or key be
lubricated
> with that will have a positive effect.  I normally lubricate the pins with
> McClube (and these pins have been lubricated), so I suppose my question is
> what would you lubricate the balance rail hole in the key with.
>
> Second, there is a fair amount of side to side play in the whippen flange
> and I when I push the repetition spring from the side it makes a slight
> click where it enters the back of the jack tender.  Aside from addressing
> the problem at the balance rail, my first thought was to repin the whippen
> flanges and lubricate the lower part of the rep spring with some Protek
> grease type lubricant.  My second thought was to replace the whippens.
>
> Note:  The problem is not loose weights either in the key or the damper
> flanges (noise continues even with dampers lifted out of the way).
> Backrail cloth and cloth on the heel of the whippen are fine.  Leather on
> the balancier is not hard.  Hammer flanges are fine, and the hammer/shank
> glue joint is solid.
>
> P.S.  Though the action is somewhat "rattly", I realize that actions do
make
> some noise and that eliminating all of it is difficult if not impossible.
> Nevertheless, this customer is sensitive to extraneous action noise and I
> would like to get it as quiet as possible.
>
> I appreciate your comments.
>
> David Love
>
>
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