[pianotech] Expanding Brackets time?

[Paul McCloud]

Joe:
I've done about a dozen or so.  
Remove the old brackets (four) from the stack.  Replace with the new ones and check the spread.  There are two different specs for that, depending upon earlier or later models, usually 112 or 113mm.  While you have it off, see if someone has turned down all the letoff dowels.  It's easier to screw them up by hand when the rail is off than to use the regulator tool one hole at a time.  The new brackets have taller feet, so you'll need to replace the screws and also drill new holes for the angled brackets (the ones in the middle).  Which means plugging them and redrilling.  You'll also need to shim up the middle brackets, and make sure when you install the action that the bedding of the frame doesn't cause the rail to bend.  Somehow the new brackets in the middle are somewhat shorter than the outer ones.  
Most of the time you're ok, but if you decide to rebed the frame, you'll be doing a whole regulating job if you do any radical changes to the glide bolts.  Often they are quite low (sticking out the bottom), so just adjust them to keep from knocking.  Since you're changing the brackets, some tweaking of the frame is likely and adjusting the glides is necessary, but don't make more work for yourself than needed.  
If you're lucky, you can get away with just re-regulating the letoff  and drop, etc., which shouldn't be that far off (see above), and it'll be back in good shape.  I've not timed myself, but if I were to guess I'd say 2-3 hours, including minor regulation.  If you go whole-hog, well you know what that means and how much time/cost it will be.
Is it worth what YC gives you for the job?  Not if you have to re-regulate the whole thing, so you might need to charge the customer for that.
Paul McCloud
San Diego

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joseph Garrett" <joegarrett at earthlink.net>
To: "pianotech" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 8:02:19 AM
Subject: [pianotech] Expanding Brackets time?

All,
I must lead a charmed life...or something like it...I've never had to
replace those pesky, expanding, grand action brackets.<G> However, I now
have an Associate that has two of them! She needs to know, approximately,
how much time it take to do that job?? I guess I need to know, as well,
so's I can insert it into the RLG, for it's next "reprint".
Thanks to any/all who respond.
Best,
Joe


Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I