[pianotech] Odd Wippen?

Joseph Garrett joegarrett at earthlink.net
Mon Jan 25 14:37:22 MST 2010


William asked: "Does anyone happen to have anything like this. Never seen one before,
and I need about two dozen. The top of the repetition lever (the
little sliver above the jack return stop felt) has a propensity for
breaking. Surpise. Opened up this action on the bench today to
discover this problem. Anyone???"

William,
That looks like a Brambach wippen. Is it? If it is, then you are totally out of luck getting replacements. However, there is a fix: cut appropriate sized slips of wood, (maple). Clean the top of the balancier lever where it has broken, with sandpaper paddle, to get a flat surface to glue to. Glue the wood slips on that surface. After glue has set up, shape the area to match the other wippen/balancier tops. Sand with fine, (180 grit), sandpaper. apply some DAG and burnish with leather. re-install.
I would also look at why they are breaking. (i.e. poor grain orientation or possibly a "pounder" flogging the bejeebers out of the piano,...while it is in poor regulation. The middle of the jack top should be in line with the front of the rosewood in the knuckle. That way, excessive pressure cannot be transfered to the balancier tip. I also noticed that the balancier spring adjustments are all over the map. Just a few thoughts from someone who works on those and owns one.<G>
Regards,
Joe 


Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)
Captain, Tool Police
Squares R I
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