[pianotech] Young Chang & Weber Grands: Action Clicking/KnockingUpon Quick Key Release

[pmc033 at earthlink.net]

Hi, Paul:
    I agree with Tom about the knuckles, but you might also look at the jack rest cushions.  They get compacted and become noisy.  In some of these, I had to needle them with a chopstick voicing tool.  Once I actually had to replace them with (yikes!) butt felt squares.  You can see if the problem is those rest felts by flicking the jack tips.  If they make that sound, you found your culprit.  The sound will reverberate with the help of the aluminum rail.  
    Have fun.
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Paul Milesi 
To: PTG Pianotech List
Sent: 10/04/2009 1:07:53 AM 
Subject: [pianotech] Young Chang & Weber Grands: Action Clicking/KnockingUpon Quick Key Release


I am now responsible for servicing three 1997 Weber grands at Howard U, ranging in size from the 4’11” WG-50 to WG-57 (5’7”) and WG-60 (6’1”).  These three are now in pretty good shape overall, but need regulation.  There are others on campus I haven’t seen yet, but have heard they’re in bad shape.

Tonight I went to a hotel which is a private client of mine and re-visited a 5’2” Young Chang G-157 for the first time in quite a long while.  I was struck by the similarities -- same problems I’m having with the Webers, which my research had told me were made by Young Chang in Inchon, South Korea.

All these pianos have a “noisy” action!  At first I thought it might be worn key bushings or loose wippen or hammer flange screws.  But I’ve now taken the time to eliminate the key and the flanges.  The noise appears to be either (1) the repetition or jack hitting the knuckle; or (2) the jack regulating button hitting the stop.  The knocking/clicking occurs when any key is released quickly, but not even necessarily all the way up.  I believe it happens when the key is released enough to let the jack return.  I’m now wondering if a third possibility is the spring in the little hole of the jack?  If so, what’s the fix?

Please, this is driving me crazy!  As a pianist and technician, I want to understand what’s happening here, and this is frustrating me.  I believe these pianos can be regulated to make them a lot better, satisfactory practice instruments, but before I waste a lot of time, I’m wondering if this problem is somehow endemic to these instruments?  Can this noise on every key be alleviated?  Does it have anything to do with aluminum rails?  HELP!

Thanks,
Paul
-- 
Paul Milesi
Registered Piano Technician (RPT)
Piano Technicians Guild
(202) 667-3136
(202) 246-3136 Cell
E-mail:  paul at pmpiano.com
Website:  http://www.pmpiano.com

Address:
3000 7th Street NE, Apt. 204
Washington, DC 20017-1402
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