perpetually sticking keys

[David Ilvedson]

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The other thing to check regarding key bushings is the length of=
 bushing cloth into the mortice.   I think about 3/8" is all you=
 need.   More than that will cause friction and sticking keys...
David I.







Original message
From: Greg Newell 
To: Pianotech 
Received: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 16:11:08 -0500
Subject: Re: perpetually sticking keys


Tom,
        Lots of things have been offered. All of them are=
 possibly valid but precious few are actually likely. Process of=
 elimination still works very well in diagnosing problems. Did=
 the piano function normally before you re-bushed the keys? If=
 so, and I suspect that this is the case, then the problem is in=
 the re-bushing effort. I suggest you look very carefully at=
 whether or not you have too much glue in there. It will have=
 dripped down lower in the mortise than the felt and could be=
 rubbing against the key pin when the key is depressed. If you=
 thought that the problem was in the felt and you eased the=
 bushing you may have missed it. What type of glue did you use?=
 Look carefully at each key mortise under a strong light and I'll=
 just bet you'll find a glob of glue in there. If so just break=
 it away and get it out of there. 
        If by chance you had this problem before doing the work=
 you described then please disregard the above.

best of luck,
Greg Newell



At 10:09 AM 1/23/2005, you wrote:

List

I got in too deep this time.  I sold a little spinet piano last=
 month. I had replaced the damper felts, key bushings, and=
 keytops.  I included a free tuning and although there was no=
 written guarantee, I promised her that the piano was in good=
 working order.  Which it was.  

While the piano was in my posession, I did have ALOT of trouble=
 getting the keys eased so that they would return promptly. =
 Every time I went out to the shop I'd find another key that=
 wouldn't come back up, but I thought I had them all taken care=
 of.  And if she had any problems, I planned to install lead=
 weights on the back of the keys.

Which I did, two weeks ago, when she called to tell me that there=
 were a couple of sticking keys.  With the weights installed, I=
 figured that would be the last I'd hear from her. 

Nope.

She called yesterday with more sticking keys.  Now, it's winter=
 here in Chicago, the indoor climate is dry, compared to spring,=
 which is only a few months away.  If she's having problems now,=
 oh boy.

My question is: what the heck can I do next?  I've eased the keys=
 from here till Sunday.   I put the lead weights all the way at=
 the back of the key for maximum effect.  I polished the keypins=
 and sprayed them with TFL50. I don't know what to do next to get=
 myself out of this quagmire.  I want her to be satisfied with=
 this instrument.  I want to stop driving the 25 miles to her=
 house.

HELP!

Tom Sivak
Chicago PTG Associate 
Greg Newell
Greg's piano Fort=E9
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net 


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