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<DIV>Centers seizing up is by no means confined to Renner. I had two Chinese
pianos do this recently. It would happen from time to time when I was in the
factory. Everything would be fine until the pianos went to the pounder prior to
final regulation, when a substantial number of centers would tighten
sufficiently for the hammers to be standing up to the strings. If left unplayed
they would free up again. The Chinese pianos behaved the same way; unplayed the
centers were fine, but upon playing they tightened. I saw the same thing last
year on Steinway replacement Tokiwa grand hammershanks. This can be very
deceptive and easily misdiagnosed. It is readily fixed with a shrinking solution
of two parts of methyl hydrate (denatured alcohol) to one of water. In my
opinion, for what it's worth, the problem is in the manufacturing practices. We
do not know what a particular maker is doing, but one continually runs into
pianos one hundred years old in which the centers are still perfect. They used
no lubricants, but evidently took the time to do things properly. Renner do
wonderful work, so it is mystifying why they should have this problem. I just
use a little teflon powder on my fingers when handling centerpins. In the old
days we were taught to run the pins through our hair before inserting them. Of
course, back then people washed their hair once a week. so it was a good source
of lanolin. I think graphite is unnecessary, and messy stuff anyway.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Ted Sambell</DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=reggaepass@aol.com
href="mailto:reggaepass@aol.com">reggaepass@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=caut@ptg.org
href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">caut@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, September 08, 2007 8:59
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [CAUT] center pinning
changes</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Hi Ric,<BR><BR><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">So you think the
graphite is the culprit? Is the graphite only on the surface of the
cloth, such that once you treat as per your post, they stay
stable?<BR><BR>thanks,<BR><BR>Alan E.<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: Richard Brekne <<A
href="mailto:ricb@pianostemmer.no">ricb@pianostemmer.no</A>><BR>To: <A
href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">caut@ptg.org</A><BR>Sent: Sat, 8 Sep 2007 1:55
am<BR>Subject: [CAUT] center pinning changes<BR><BR>
<DIV id=AOLMsgPart_2_cb614b38-c0dc-46ea-a0dd-e4aa9a662f9e>Hi Alan,
others<BR><BR>Renner has for years insisted upon using graphite in their
center pin bushings. They state they have carried out extensive studies that
refute claims that graphite can cause centers to seize after some use.
Lubrications usually have a temporary affect in my experience, but not
always. My general solution is to re-pin, reaming the bushing very
lightly to get some of the graphite out, and working some telfon powder into
the bushings before inserting the new pin. Seems to allow for a tighter
pining for same friction levels.<BR><BR>Cheers<BR>RicB<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE><BR>List(s),<BR><BR>I've noticed something that I don't
understand on a few actions with <BR>Renner parts. Initially, the
pinning is just right (either came that <BR>way or were made that
way). Eventually, some of the pinning becomes <BR>too tight.
When I apply the smallest drop of lubricant, the pinning <BR>that was too
tight immediately becomes too loose. This has happened <BR>with both
hammer and repetition lever centers. I don't get it. Has
<BR>anyone out there had a similar experience? Does anyone have any
idea <BR>what is going on?<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>Alan Eder</BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><!-- end of AOLMsgPart_2_cb614b38-c0dc-46ea-a0dd-e4aa9a662f9e -->
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