Brass butt problem

[Robert B Edwardsen]

If the brass is not cracked my experience has been that sometimes the pin is not
quite lined up and that makes the butt really loose, other times I have found small
cracks/splits in the wood of the butt below the felt lined pin hole allow the butt
to have a little wobble.

I would imagine brass is pretty easy to mold since it has a pretty low melting
point compared to Stainless Steel.

Rob Edwardsen, RPT

Gregory Torres wrote:

> James,
>
> Is it the butt plates that are breaking or the rail itself? If it is chronic
> you may just have a case where the brass  has  "crystallized". I don't know if
> this is a legitimate technical term for it but I don't know any other way to
> explain it except that the brass has changed it's molecular structure and has
> weakened. Or somewhere another tech has over-tightened the screws weakening the
> brass. If it is the rail you may have to have the brass rail duplicated. I
> don't know who does this anymore-anyone else???
>
> You might also be able to get by with the brass rail flange/plate repair clips
> sold by Apsco or Schaff. They have proven indispensable for me many times. I
> keep a couple dozen of the different types in my parts bin at all times. Good
> Luck.
>
> BTW, maybe someone can explain why stainless steel has not been used in this
> type of application (I haven't seen it used anyways) besides being more costly
> than brass, perhaps??? Del?? any others??
>
> Regards,
> Greg Torres
>
> James Dally wrote:
>
> > I installed new butts and hammers on a Kroehler upright.  I have checked
> > the brass rail and the brass butts where the screw goes in.  This is the
> > type where the screw goes through the rail and then the brass butt receives
> > the threaded screw.  The butts have been replaced where hammers have
> > loosened but the problem continues.  When it seems I have solved the
> > problem, another hammer loosens.  As near as I can tell the rail is not
> > cracked.  If anyone has had experience with this problem I will certainly
> > appreciate advice.  Jim Dally