yamaha "soft close"

[Don]

Hi Mike,

I'm sure it would be cheaper to devise a clamp to keep the fall board *open*.

At 05:52 AM 4/22/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>Paul,
>
>I have a client interested in a soft close retrofit to her Kawai grand
>(teacher whose younger students keep knocking the fallboard down on their
>fingers!).  I've looked at the QRS website but found no info on fallboard
>closers.  Can you give me contact info, part number, price?
>
>thanks
>
>Mike Spalding RPT
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Paul McCloud" <pmc333@earthlink.net>
>To: "'Pianotech'" <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 12:24 AM
>Subject: RE: yamaha "soft close"
>
>
>> I've installed both versions of the QRS fallboard closer.  They are a
>> pneumatic pouch, to which is tied a thin cable.  The other end of the
>> cable is tied to the rear edge of the fallboard.
>>
>> One unit installs inside the action cavity, at the right rear bulkhead
>> behind the dag.  I was told that this version doesn't work as well as
>> the one which installs underneath the piano.  It is also more difficult
>> to install.
>> The internal pneumatic unit has an arm attached to it, the end of which
>> is tied to the cable.  The arm will hit the treblemost hammers if not
>> adjusted properly.  The pneumatic unit (approx. 5" X 7") is hinged at
>> the left side,  and the front half swings in an arc outward towards the
>> keys.  The arm is screwed across the face of the front half, thus
>> sticking out towards the right side of the piano.  Two pulleys are
>> supplied with screws, and these pulleys guide the cable from the arm
>> across the inside right action cavity wall to the keybed and upwards to
>> the fallboard rear edge, where it connects through a screw-eye.
>> The problem is that there is little room for the arm to move. Unless the
>> pneumatic pouch develops vacuum, it won't slow the fallboard, and this
>> won't happen until the pouch is at least partially opened.  I think I
>> pulled the action out of the piano at least 25 times before I was able
>> to make the thing work without hitting those hammers.  The compromise
>> needed was that the fallboard had to free-fall most of the way down
>> before it slowed.
>>
>> The other unit installs under the piano.  It requires a hole in the
>> keyframe and keybed.  I was afraid of drilling the holes (I usually
>> measure once, drill twice, and start over), but it turned out to be much
>> easier than I thought.  It took only about 20 mins. to install
>> everything, and worked great.  The pneumatic unit is almost unnoticeable
>> under the piano (mounts behind the lyre or timber on one side).  You do
>> have to unhook the wire before you remove the fallboard, though.
>>
>> I would recommend the QRS system (and make some $$$'s too!)
>>
>> My take,
>> Paul McCloud
>> San Diego
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>
>_______________________________________________
>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>
>

Regards,
Don Rose, B.Mus., A.M.U.S., A.MUS., R.M.T., R.P.T.

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