For those of you familiar with the new Wessell, Nickel and Gross (WNG) composite action parts: Having recently installed WNG whippens along with shanks and flanges (w/ the new hard bushings) I have a couple of questions. 1) What is your general, overall sense of these parts in terms of regulation and performance? For one thing, we are finding the rep springs way too strong, requiring more than usual "uncoiling" to obtain correct spring strength. The shank flange friction is within WNG specs of 2 to 4 grams as measured per the WNG site. 2) Have you encountered clicking sounds, reminiscent of the old S&S Teflon bushings? We have on about 8 treble notes. The clicking also might have been loose hammer heads, but these were checked and also reinforced (front and back joints) with CA glue, followed by making sure of flange and action screw tightness. Still clicking. Since the flange bushings are hard (as opposed to the earlier WNG parts which came with cloth bushings) we cannot easily check / repin these centers. Any WNG-specific insight on the source of clicking? Some quick thoughts: The action is an old Boston M&H BB that was heavily leaded. The lighter weight and lower inertia WNG parts, including the low-mass capstans, allowed for a significant amount of lead removal and / or reduction. The shanks "burn" easily and surely with a heat gun. The WNG "action glue" recommended for hammers, etc., works fine as long as you don't readjust previously glued hammers (as is often done with hot glue). If you see one leaning that was glued a few minutes earlier, better to let it dry and then burn it over later. Very few flanges required travel paper. Overall flange friction, whips and shanks, is fairly consistent. Trimming and / or sanding off the hammer shank (tube) stubs after the hammer glue has dried creates a black powder, some of which migrates into the hollow tube only to escape later on to your nice, clean backchecks. Break up the fibrous material in the tubes with a wire and vacuum out, or else allow the shanks to hang vertical and shake-'n-tap the powder out. Am probably forgetting something. Will post more when I know (or remember) more. I know that Bruce Clark is storehouse of knowledge here, but I am also interested in varied input and experience from working techs. Thanks -- Nick Gravagne, RPT AST Mechanical Engineering -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100622/081026ce/attachment.htm>
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC