Tight Grommets

[Mike Kurta]

    Mike:
    I made a tool for replacing the grommets when the rubber disintegrates
from around the square nut.  I welded a 1/4" drive ratchet extension that
was 2" long to a power screwdriver bit.  This gave me a tool that looks like
this: one end of the tool goes in your battery drill or screwdriver and the
other is a  1/4" square female socket. It may be necessary  to drill out the
center of the extension to make room for the length of the threaded rod with
the tool is in use.   When the rubber crumbles away from the grommet, use a
drop of penetrating oil, WD40, or your favorite "freedom juice" on each
metal nut thats left.  Snap a pair of needle nose miniature vise-grips (the
angle type work best, but are hard to find) around the threaded rod below
the nut to minimize twisting the rod.  Place the square socket tool over the
square nut and carefully spin the nut off.  Voila!  Saves a ton of
time......    Mike Kurta
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike and Jane Spalding" <mjbkspal@execpc.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 11:31 PM
Subject: Re: Tight Grommets


> Matt,
>
> Aftertouch is marginal to non-existent.   If i could have removed the lost
motion, that would have restored the aftertouch to about the right amount.
I might have had to also shim the hammer rest rail forward.
> I'm thinking replacing the grommets will be less hassle in the long run
than messing up the key frame.
>
> Mike
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Matt Wynne <ptuner@optonline.net>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2002 8:27 AM
> Subject: Re: Tight Grommets
>
>
> > Another alternative is to see if you can increase the blow distance by
> > moving the hammer rail back.  This is assuming of course that you have
> > uniform excess lost motion.  If you try that and you don't have enough
> > aftertouch, you can raise that balance rail to add more key dip.  That
> > right thing to do of course is replace the grommets.
> >
> > Matt W.
> >
> >
>