Gene, Those are really nasty looking keys! ugh!! Looks like the Renner matches well, except the length, which could be extended with the spoons. I particularly like the concept of the spoons, as it gives you one more aspect of regulation. Because the keys are so ratty, I think I'd, at least patch on, (with the finger joints), a new end on all the keys and then machine them to a nice uniformity. That would be my take on that. Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon) Captain, Tool Police Squares R I ----- Original Message ----- From: Gene Nelson To: joegarrett at earthlink.net Sent: 6/16/09 8:11:04 PM Subject: Re: Grand Damper Lever Spoon Addition Joe, Thanks so much for the information. I attached a couple of pics for your viewing. Ever see key ends so uneven? The original and Renner lift levers show the issue and much of the problem is the shape of the lever where it touches the key. The Renner part would be at the edge of the key end felt. The center of the tower on the Renner would be 4mm closer to the key ends to make it work. I have no problem drilling into lead. I would not mind trying the spoon installation but my drilling apparatus is probably not up to the accuracy. Do you trim the ends of the Renner levers? One option is to rebuild the originals but I do not like the rigid sost tabs. In the end I more than likely will extend the key ends as they need some work anyway. I probably should have waited to install the back checks. Regards, Gene Nelson ----- Original Message ----- From: Joseph Garrett To: Gene Nelson ; pianotech Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:42 PM Subject: Re: Grand Damper Lever Spoon Addition Gene, I just got out my Renner Parts Kit and checked. They are not too skinny. However the real question to ask is: is the center pin of the Top Flange the same distance from the flange center pin. If it is then I'd drill the ends of the levers to accomodate the spoons. As I said it requires a good drill press with a cross vice and a fixture/jig to get the levers consistantly centered in the drilling process. I have done this. Also, I drill right through the front lead and then pressed the spoons right into the lead. worked just fine. As I said, there are several different sizes of spoons available. A couple from Renner and one from Schaff. If drilling the lead bothers you, just pop that front one out and plug with an appropriate sized dowel. Now, there is another way to do this, which I also have done. That is, lengthen the keys. This, I did with a router table with a Finger Joint cutter. I used Sugar Pine and extended the keys on a modified Erard action. worked just fine also. All doable, just depends on what you really are trying to accomplish. If the back action is toast and the keys are good, then a new Renner back action would be the ticket. Lengthen the keys to make it work and be done with it. Or add the spoons if that appeals to you. It may be that you'll want to do both.<G> Either way, you will have a better back action system. Adding on to the key will not make much difference in the key weighting situation. Sugar Pine is pretty light and machines quite well. Oh, you'll need to rig up some kind of clamping jig to clamp the new end onto the key. OR, you'll need to make a jig for press fitting the spoons. Also, I suggest putting the end of the damper lever in a vise when you press the spoons in. This will help avoid splitting the lever end. Well, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. Joe Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon) Captain, Tool Police Squares R I ----- Original Message ----- From: Gene Nelson To: joegarrett at earthlink.net Sent: 6/16/09 5:20:02 PM Subject: Re: Grand Damper Lever Spoon Addition Thanks Joe, I was looking at my Renner Kit wondering if I could make it happen and they look too skinny plus the spoon would be into the lead - at least in the bass. The problem is that the original Knabe levers are longer and the flange center to tower center spacing is such that the Renner lever is 4mm too short. I need to put on spoons or extend the key ends. Gene ----- Original Message ----- From: Joseph Garrett To: nelsong at intune88.com ; pianotech Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:27 PM Subject: Grand Damper Lever Spoon Addition I've installed damper spoons on a few sets of grand damper levers. It's accomplished mostly with a jig/cross vise on a drill press. Levers need to be removed from the back action and cut shorter to accomodate the spoons. There are a few different lengths of spoons available. BTW, the spoons are PRESSED in not Screwed in, as someone suggested to remedy the Sojin problem. Regards, Joe Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon) Captain, Tool Police Squares R I -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20090616/69d843a5/attachment.htm>
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