Noisy Yamaha action

David Love davidlovepianos@hotmail.com
Mon, 12 Feb 2001 21:07:12 -0000


It's not the knuckles nor the key bushings.

Thanks

>From: Steven Coolidge <stevenc@calweb.com>
>Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
>To: pianotech@ptg.org
>Subject: Re: Noisy Yamaha action
>Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 09:56:02 -0800
>
>Did anyone mention putting teflon on the knuckles?  That is the cause of
>the "click first time" effect on grands in my experience.
>
>Steve
>
>At 05:15 AM 2/11/01 +0000, you wrote:
>>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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