Heintzman 186 Conservatory Grand Problem

[Roger Jolly]

Hi Glenn,
                   A not so uncommon problem with some Heintzman 
grands, is pin block de lamination.  If some bright spark tried to 
tap a few a few tuning pins with out supporting the block.  Then 
Bingo! that will be your problem.

Check to see if the strings are very close to the plate, that will 
give you a good indicator.  About 1/8" would be correct.

The tenor section is particularly prone since the pins are so close 
together.  Closer than most piano's.

I have used a small jack and couple of squares of Delignite maple cap 
material to spread the load on top of the keys.
Now easy does it.  Gently jack up a little, then move the jack  a few 
inches and keep repeating, gently forcing the lamination up, until 
you get that lamination back up.

Warning do not rush, and easy does it, you have to be careful not to 
damage the keys.

Worst case,  I have had to put piano on it's side and start getting 
the keybed apart.  On Heintzman's  they are both glued and doweled to 
the rim.  The pin block on this vintage is glued and doweled into the 
rim and stretcher.
Moral of the story,  this can be a major job.

Hope this gives you some thing to check

Regards Roger.





At 10:10 AM 11/23/2007, you wrote:
>Today I went to a Heintzman 186 Conservatory Grand for the first 
>time. I believe that the serial number, (which was written in 
>invisible ink), is 250807. The customer says that it is 31 years 
>old. It is generally in pretty good condition. I was called in 
>because of a noise in the action. I immediately diagnosed the 
>problem as a loose fastener on the hammer rest rail. I went to pull 
>the action and could not get it out because the hammer flange screws 
>were hitting on the stretcher board. The stretcher board looks 
>perfect and is solid. I loosened the lyre fastening screws, just in 
>case they might have been too long and might be projecting through 
>the key bed. The leg bolts were not protruding and the unicorda was 
>functioning normally. I backed off, (raised), the bedding screws a 
>lot, (I'd say at least three turns, but I was not counting). I still 
>could not get the action out. I was able to flex the hammer flange 
>rail and cause the key frame to give some. My assumption is that the 
>glide screws have been over-extended for a long period of time and 
>the key frame has been warped upwards and has taken on a set. I 
>advised the customer to allow the action to rest for a while, and 
>perhaps the key frame will relax. I told her to call me when the 
>notes start double striking.
>
>Did I miss anything? Is there something unusual about a Heintzman 
>which I am not aware of? Do you think my assumption might be 
>correct? If the action does not settle down, can you recommend a 
>good method for getting it out and back in? I can't see reducing the 
>dimension of the stretcher as the correct answer. They had to get it 
>in somehow. It's entirely possible that the action has seen no 
>service in 31 years. Any suggestion is appreciated
>
>Thank you,
>Glenn V.
>Key Note Piano Service
>
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