Slow Console Action

[Farrell]

Kinda. When you get the system into its stuck mode with the jack not properly reset, instead of lifting the hammer, I just pushed the back of the key down a tad and the jacks seemed to snap back into resting position with a fair bit of force. I should think the jack center and spring are at least adequate for most pianos (maybe not this one) - and I did lube the jack center. Of course, the spring may not be as strong as a new spring - and that would certainly help.

I guess what the deal is this some of these pianos is that - assuming they worked when new - their function was marginal on day one. As the performance of any component drops to 90% - or especially if numerous components drop in performance, as is the norm for any piano as it ages - the action stops working. And that is that.

What is the main design criteria that these pianos miss with? Is it key length? Is the key center not in the right place (too far back)? The action is the same as a taller vertical. Is it that the keys are not weighted? Is it a smaller wippen and jack assembly and therefore less wippen weight? Or is it all of the above?

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Brekne" <Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 6:37 AM
Subject: Re: Slow Console Action


> I suppose you have manually checked to see the jack (center) is actually free enough and jack spring strong enough to do the job ??  Push the hammer forward a bit with your finger til the bridal strap is taught... that should introduce enough space between the butt and the jack top so that you can flip the jack tail with your finger and see how fast it flips back.
> 
> If thats good... then you have either a regulation problem or a geometry problem... no ??
> 
> Cheers
> 
> RicB
> 
> 
> Farrell wrote:
> 
> > Not really slow, but rather when you lift your finger up off a key slowly, the jack will not slide under the hammer butt. I believe this to be a somewhat common problem on these little pianos. This one is a 1960ish Kohler & Campbell console. Clearly, the key is front weighted enough that the wippen is not able to return the key to resting position fully and thus let the jack slip under the butt. I lubed the action liberally with Protek and eased all the keys - got everything as loose as I reasonably could - the jacks still get stuck when lifting off the note slowly.
> >
> > I suppose the jack springs could be a bit on the weak side. On a well designed and manufactured vertical piano in good condition, should the weight of the wippen be sufficient to push the rear of the key down to rest on the backrail felt? I should think so.
> >
> > Have I missed anything? Any recommendations?
> >
> > Terry Farrell
> > _______________________________________________
> > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> 
> --
> Richard Brekne
> RPT, N.P.T.F.
> UiB, Bergen, Norway
> mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no
> http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives