depressed lead

[Farrell]

Good morning Joe. This sounds like the same kind of trouble I posted about a couple months ago. My subject piano was a slow Kohler & Campbell. Look up "slow console action" in the archives (or maybe in your delete basket!).

Bottom line I got out of it: Action likely barely worked on day #1, and degradation in performance (such as it was) will cause trouble. Likely trouble spots - cups in center rail bushings just slowing things down enough (put weights on the back of key so that key is balanced - one or two grams of weight then applied to the front and then to the back of key should make key go completely up and down - all you need is one or two grams of unwanted friction to stop a marginal action like these) - often the highly offset design of the key ('cause they are so short) adds to this problem. Not that anyone really wants to recommend jiffy weights, but in a case like this where the action was likely marginal to begin with, they just might be the key (oopps - pun!). Of course in your case with leads in the front, you might just want to pop them out - or if that would be too much of a weight change, take a drill and drill out a 1/4" hole. You could pre-test this by adding a same-size weight to the back of the key, the same distance from the center as the front lead is to see what the effect would be - it will be the same up/down weight change, but not the same inertia change.

Good luck, let us know what you did and how it worked.

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Lwellerrpt@aol.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2003 1:37 AM
Subject: Re: depressed lead


> Joe-
> 
> How are the jack springs?  If the action worked once, why would you change 
> the leads now?  
> 
> Lisa
> 
> In a message dated 4/22/2003 10:29:02 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
> imatunr@srvinet.com writes:
> 
> 
> > Hi all,
> > Kimball compressed action circa 1980
> > Keys depress down when action is removed,
> > dimples in the wippen heel cloth,
> > slow key return.
> > All action centers well lubed and free
> > Steamed, ironed dry and applied teflon powder.
> > Still a few uncooperative citizens.
> > Two questions 
> > 1. is it normal to have the keys smartly salute in reverse.
> > 2. is it best to remove lead from the key stick ( oh yes all the lead is to 
> > the front end of the key stick between the front pins and balance rail )  
> > or should I add some jiffy leads.
> >  
> >  
> >  
> > Joe Goss
> > <A HREF="mailto:imatunr@srvinet.com">imatunr@srvinet.com</A>
> > <A HREF="http://www.mothergoosetools.com/">www.mothergoosetools.com</A>
> > 
> 
>