Spinet Evaluation

[Dean May]

What Mike said. Pay special attention if the adjusting nuts on top of the
drop wire are of the wooden dowel type that are wrapped in green felt. The
felt will swell causing binding where they fit down into the wells on the
backs of the keys. Whenever I do an elbow job with that style of dowel I
always take the stickers into my shop and sand the green felt mostly off on
the disc sander. Install your new elbows on the stickers while in the shop. 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

 

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Mike Spalding
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 7:02 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Spinet Evaluation

Matthew,

It wouldn't be unusual for the drop wires to be bent and/or binding 
where they hook on the keys, acting like a spring preventing the return 
of the key.  Try disconnecting one from its key, and see if the 
wippen-butt-hammer assembly returns freely without the constraint of the 
key-dropwire joint.

Mike

Matthew Todd wrote:
> I returned from the spinet evaluation. The elbows will need to be 
> replaced.  And with the keys that do work, when you release your 
> finger from the key, the hammer only goes about half way back and you 
> have to move it with your hand to return it.  I am suspecting the 
> hammer return springs need replacing.  It didn't "feel" like tight 
> flanges, and the hammer springs are where they're suppose to be, but I 
> guess they just are wore out.
>  
>  
> Thoughts?
> Matthew