Noisy Action troubleshooting

[Dean May]

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Take about a number 20 center pin and lock it in needle nose vice grips
(everyone has a pair of these- right?). Insert the pin between the
 "buckskin" and the felt and pull the buckskin away from the felt all around
the knuckle. You are looking to separate the buckskin from the felt and also
stretch the buckskin. The pin will bend before you pull too hard. You'll
probably bend up a couple before you get all the way through the set.

This is a temporary, quick and dirty way to quiet hard noisy knuckles. Works
well on Young Changs.

Dean
Dean May             cell 812.239.3359
PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272
Terre Haute IN  47802

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On Behalf
Of Brad Smith, RPT
Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2004 7:16 AM
To: 'Pianotech'
Subject: RE: Noisy Action troubleshooting

Thanks everyone for replies.
I checked this action briefly; didn't have time to take everything apart...

There are a couple of different schools of thought amongst the techs at this
dealer.
One believes that the wippen flanges are pinned too loosely or are too
loose.
I had originally believed it was key bushings being excessively loose.
The key bushings are loose, but the noises are still there when you hold the
key still and 'bob' the wippen up from below.

The knuckles feel like rocks!  I tried to stick a voicing needle from the
side, into the felt under the buckskin...could barely get it in there.
Any remedy other than replacing all the knuckles?
I lightly roughened a few with sand paper, and it did have some effect.
Although I don't really want to tear up buckskin on the whole action do I?

Also tried some fabric softener on one, no immediate change, but maybe when
I see it again Monday.

It seems as if every surface that makes contact with a moving part is too
hard.
-Knuckles contacting tops of jacks on rebound
-Rep lever regulating screw contacting its (hard) rest felt
-Jack contacting its return cushion
-Hammer contacting hammer rest rail felt (this one actually uses keyframe
felt, woven/dense)
-Maybe even wippen cushion contacting capstan
    (on a hard blow, wouldn't the wippen actually separate from capstan,
although very briefly?  I suppose it depends on key weighting)

Anyway...what else can I do to these rock hard knuckles?

Thanks!

Brad Smith, RPT

-----Original Message-----
From: Avery Todd [mailto:avery@ev1.net]
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2004 5:14 PM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Re: Noisy Action troubleshooting
Brad,

Another possibility is very hard buckskin on the knuckles. I just
finished replacing a set on a brand new grand in the store I do
some work for. It really helped!

Avery

At 11:45 AM 12/5/04, you wrote:



----- Original Message -----
From: staff <mailto:staff@smithpiano.com>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2004 3:29 AM
Subject: Noisy Action troubleshooting
Hi All,
This week I will be diagnosing a new, very noisy, Nordiska grand action for
a concerned dealer.
Nordiska is Chinese manufactured as you probably know.
Excessive action noise, present thru whole action, but worse on some
keys/sections <SNIP>
.
Brad Smith, RPT
    Brad,
    Another source of noise is very hard jack regulating punchings (makes
noise when all comes to rest.)
    I've replaced under warranty on some Y.C. and Samicks in the past.
    Just one thought.
    Tom Driscoll RPT


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