[pianotech] Rebel action

[Paul McCloud]

Hi, Arlie:
	You might look at the butt leather and see if it's come loose.  I'm not
sure what you mean by "rebound against the rest rail".  I assume that the
jack  isn't resetting and so the key doesn't repeat.  Somehow, that jack
isn't going back under the hammer butt, even though you have a new spring
installed and the jack is free.  Right?  You've got a little lost motion,
so the jack can get back under?  The bridle tape is not interfering with
the jack?  There is nothing that fell into the action, like a screw or
something that prevents the jack from returning?  The wippen flange is free
and not sticky?  Key is free, and the grommet on the lifter wire isn't
binding?  These spinets are hard to service because you can't see things
easily.  One thing that causes sticking keys on Wurlitzer spinets is that
the wippen heel felt has become crushed by the capstan, so it has a lot of
friction.  The keys become sluggish ( and won't repeat).  Cure is to
replace the felt on the wippen.  I would bet you have some sluggish keys
too, no?  If so, look at the other parts which lead up to the jack,
starting with the key, grommets, wippen flanges, lost motion, etc. 
Something is amiss, and you'll find it.
	Good luck.
	Paul McCloud
	San Diego


> [Original Message]
> From: Arlie Rauch <adarpub at midrivers.com>
> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Date: 07/06/2011 6:49:25 AM
> Subject: [pianotech] Rebel action
>
> Yesterday I serviced a Wurlitzer console.  The customer complained about
one key (2nd Eb above middle C) not working.  The problem was that the jack
would get stuck when the hammer returned.
>
> I tried various regulation changes (regulation button, back check, bridle
wire, etc.).  The capstan was proper.  When its action appeared to be
regulated exactly as those around it, the hammer would rebound against the
rest rail.  The only way I could get it to behave somewhat properly was to
move the back check about a quarter inch further forward than all the other
back checks.  Then it would not get stuck, but repetition suffered some.
>
> I even replaced the jack spring, thinking that was weak, but it made no
difference.
>
> What have I possibly missed here?
>
> Arlie Rauch