Slow key mystery ....

[piannaman at aol.com]

Alan,
I'm guessing it's a wippen flange pin, too.  Bad luck to have it happen on a spinet.  But don't make it your bad luck.  Charge appropriately for it!
 
It wouldn't be the spoon digging into the felt on the damper lever, because that would only happen when the damper was being pushed by the spoon--when the sustain pedal is NOT engaged.
 
Damper springs have a direct effect on downweight and upweight.  Push the pedal down, and feel how light the touch seems.  Add unwanted friction, and the keys could end up having sluggish response.
 
I've taken to checking for slow returning notes on most pianos by trying them all with the pedal depressed. 
 
Dave Stahl
 

 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: J. R. White <jrwhiteltd at msn.com>
To: 'Pianotech List' <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Fri, 12 May 2006 08:11:02 -0700
Subject: RE: Slow key mystery ....


Action-center on the whip-flange, maybe...  These center-pin bushings will swell up, now and then.
J R W
 
jrwhiteltd at msn.com
(253) 922-2372



From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Joe And Penny Goss
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 8:12 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Slow key mystery ....
 
Divot in wippen heel?
Joe Goss RPT
Mother Goose Tools
imatunr at srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: John M. Formsma 
To: 'Pianotech List' 
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 8:35 PM
Subject: RE: Slow key mystery ....
 
Did you check/replace the jack spring to see that might have been the problem? As Paul said, the wippen is another cause as well, and I’d use the lead, baby…unless by removing the action you can increase your paycheck. E.g., tightening action screws, hammer filing, in addition to checking the wippen flange friction. (Checking with the customer first, of course.)
 
I think the reason the damper aids in key return is that the damper spring pushes on the wippen spoon. The problem has to be excess friction in the key or in the action. Or, the keystick truly needs some extra weight. I’d say the former rather than the latter.
 
John Formsma
 



From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of pmc033 at earthlink.net
Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 8:09 PM
To: tune4u at earthlink.net, Pianotech List
Subject: RE: Slow key mystery ....
 
Hi Alan:
    Did you determine if the wippen flange was stuck?  It often causes the key not to return quickly.  Unfortunately, if this is the case, you won't be able to determine this unless you take out the action and check it.  I vote for the iffy weights.  Good luck.
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego
 
 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Alan Barnard 
To: Pianotech
Sent: 05/11/2006 5:43:32 PM 
Subject: Slow key mystery ...
 
First visit, new customer, Baldwin Howard spinet.
 
Customer complains that F2 "sticks". Sure enough, it is very slow to return. Lift sticker off the key end and the action seems lively enough. No problem with keyslip. Look at back of key and, guess what, someone else tried to fix this key: It had a jiffy lead nailed to the back.
 
I removed the lead, so I could make a propper repair, for heaven's sake! I eased the key a bit and then it would return just as fast as its neighbors. Done ... or so I thought.
 
Tuned and was playing the piano when I noticed F2 "sticking". Further experiments revealed that it only happened when I depressed the sustain pedal. Hmmmm....
 
Tried holding the damper off the string with a hook (no pedal pressed) and the slow return was still evident. Hmmmmm....
 
I could not, offhand, think how the damper, damper arm or spring, would affect key return like this. I was out of time, running late actually, so I had to come up with something quick.
 
Simple. I nailed the jiffy lead back in place. Works great.
 
All I can think is that maybe the felt is worn and the spoon is snagging on it, or something. And I do want to fix it properly next time.
 
Any ideas, oh wise and knowing List?
 
Alan Barnard
Salem, Missouri
 
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