<HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.5730.11" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"> <DIV>Alan:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I worked with several of them, and once you get the knack, it takes about 5 minutes to disconnect the wippens. I use a beveled hammer shank to push down on the key right under the center, and pull up with my other hand, or you can lever each center apart with the hammer shank. Getting them back together is much the same trick. It will feel as if something is going to break, but if you're careful, you'll be fine.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Paul</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2>IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH, STOP HAVING OPINIONS!</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 01/23/07 19:54:32 Central Standard Time, jimperkins@optusnet.com.au writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"> <DIV> <STYLE type=text/css> .aolmailheader {font-size:8pt; color:black; font-family:Arial} a.aolmailheader:link {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal} a.aolmailheader:visited {color:magenta; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal} a.aolmailheader:active {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal} a.aolmailheader:hover {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; font-weight:normal} </STYLE> <META content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)" name=Generator> <STYLE>  </STYLE> <DIV class=Section1> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I have done this several times now and was able to prise them off with a thin screwdriver.</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">It’s fiddley work but possible and nothing broke in the process. They must be stronger than they look.</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I would be interested to hear if there is a special tool.</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The offset screwdriver is also not easy but works when you get the hang.</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Jim Perkins</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">-----Original Message-----<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> alan forsyth [mailto:alan@forsythalan.wanadoo.co.uk] <BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tuesday, 23 January 2007 9:36 AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> Pianotech List<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Bechstein tied keyboard</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><STRONG><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I'm having to regulate the action of a circa 1890 Bechstein grand which has that confounded tied keyboard and rocker capstans. Normally i've avoided having to remove the action stack but this time I will have to as the keys are so higgldy piggldy. I have a special tool to adjust the screws on the rockers; a ratchet offset screwdriver. What I want to know is, is there a special tool for disconnecting the stickers from the capstans. They are those stickers that tie the undercarriage of the whippen to the rocker capstan using centrepins. The bottom end of the sticker just clips onto the capstan. However the stickers are recessed so far back under the action stack that it is almost impossible to disconnect them without breaking something because they are usually very tight and there is so little room under there to manoeuvre.</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><STRONG><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Another sleepless night ahead.</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><STRONG><B><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">AF</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML>