Mike (and others), That's what Aubrey Willis told me almost 40 years ago. If a note has a problem, you have 87 others to compare it to to figure out what the problem is! Avery Todd On Fri, Jul 25, 2008 at 10:32 AM, Michael Magness <IFixPianos at yahoo.com> wrote: > > > On Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 9:19 PM, Matthew Todd <toddpianoworks at att.net> > wrote: > >> I was working on my piano this evening, and I noticed two problems, and I >> wanted to get some input before I proceed. >> >> 1. When I play one particular note, I hear a clicking sound. It is from >> the action, not the key. I believe it is the jack rubbing against the >> underside of the butt, and the buckskin in worn off. When I pull the jack >> back with my screwdriver and release it, it does make the same kind of >> sound. And when I press down on the key, wait a few seconds, then release >> it, I hear it too. >> >> 2. On a few notes I hear what sounds like a faint squeak. I believe it >> may the front rail pin rubbing on worn bushing cloth underneath. >> >> >> Matthew >> > > Hi Matthew, > > I believe you've had some excellent advise on the hammer butt issue so I > won't bore you with more, just suggest checking the catcher for tightness as > well. I have seen them come unglued and click as you describe, either the > catcher itself or the dowel that is glued into the hammer butt. > > As for the squeak, I agree with those who say it is probably not the front > rail pin but most probably the center rail pin with one caveat. > Try playing the same notes with the sustain pedal fully depressed and see > if the squeak is still there, if it is then address it at the key. > If not check the damper spring slots on the damper lever, they were > originally coated with a dag-type substance which has probably worn through. > My favorite fix for this is a number 2 pencil nicely sharpened, use it to > "color in" the area where the spring rubs against the slot in the damper > lever. > > This is an "old school" fix that doesn't come out of a spray bottle or > aerosol can but it lasts longer, doesn't "gunk up" the action and it works. > > If the problem is at the key, teflon powder will quiet it for the moment > but teflon powder isn't forever and will wear/migrate away in time. I am not > a fan of Protek for action/key problems because it masks the real problem > which eventually will re-appear. I prefer to assess the problem and if the > customer is willing repair it in the apropriate fashion. > If your keybushings are squeaking it means one of 3 things, the wrong glue > or too much of it was used, the wrong felt was used, the felt has worn > through to the glue. > Based on your description of the clicking hammer butt buckskin, my bet > would be the wear, which means your keys, at least the balance rail, are due > for rebushing. > > Tom Driscoll gave you some excellent advice, the wording is different but > it's what I tell the newbies I work with. When you are in a customer's home, > you are the expert which means you have to figure it out, you have > everything you need at your disposal. If it's a key problem, there are 87 > comparisons to make. Start with plan A and as you are implenting it, figure > out plan B, just in case, if you need plan B, figure out plan C and so on. > I've gotten to plan F a few times. > > <grin> > > Mike > > -- > I feel sorry for the person who can't get genuinely excited about his work. > Not only will he never be satisfied, but he will never achieve anything > worthwhile. > Walter Chrysler > > > > Michael Magness > Magness Piano Service > 608-786-4404 > www.IFixPianos.com <http://www.ifixpianos.com/> > email mike at ifixpianos.com > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20080725/fc5843cf/attachment.html
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