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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi David, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Did the fall board come off at the same time
too?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>Joe Goss RPT<BR>Mother Goose Tools<BR><A
href="mailto:imatunr@srvinet.com">imatunr@srvinet.com</A><BR><A
href="http://www.mothergoosetools.com">www.mothergoosetools.com</A></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=ilvey@sbcglobal.net href="mailto:ilvey@sbcglobal.net">David
Ilvedson</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, November 24, 2007 7:19
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: Heintzman 186 Conservatory
Grand Problem</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN></FONT>I ran into this very thing on a
1950's Petrof just last week. I couldn't pull the action and had visions
of lowering the glides and cursing the tech who installed hammers incorrectly
bored, when discover if I removed several screws holding the
stretcher, out popped the action. I had not seen that
yet...<BR><BR>David Ilvedson, RPT<BR>Pacifica, CA 94044<BR><BR></P>
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<HR>
Original message<BR>From: "Glenn Vallespir"
<KEYNOTEPIANO@VERIZON.NET> </KEYNOTEPIANO@VERIZON.NET><BR>To: "Pianotech
List" <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG> </PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG><BR>Received: 11/24/2007
3:43:29 AM<BR>Subject: RE: Heintzman 186 Conservatory Grand Problem<BR><BR>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Roger,</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">While not being in
front of the piano at this moment, I am confident that the pin block was not
the issue. I inserted a sheet of paper between the hammer flange rail and the
stretcher board and it did not begin to bind until the screws were touching
the stretcher board. This test revealed that the problem was uniform across
the hammer rail/ stretch board contact area. When I did try to flex the action
I was able to pull it forward a little. When I pushed the action back in back
in, screw marks were visible on the stretcher board underside surface. I did
try to find screws to tighten. While the screws in the hammer flange rail are
not really accessible, almost all of the screws I was able to test in other
parts of the action were fairly tight. I have inferred that the flange screws
are similarly tight. I’ve seen the tapped down tuning pins before. The tuning
pins were visibly at a uniform height and the torque was quite acceptable and
reasonable uniform. I don’t think that anyone tapped the pins down. The
stretcher board extends slightly further down than the pin block. When I pull
the action it stops abruptly and uniformly parallel to the front of the piano.
If the pins were the problem I think my perception would be
different.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Jon suggested that
the stretcher board might have screws that fasten it and allow it to be
removed. Have you seen this to be the case?</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Thanks for the
suggestions and cautionary words. The more possibilities that I have to look
at, the better the possibility that I will find the “giant on/off key” which I
had expected to find the first time out.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Regards,</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Glenn
V.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
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face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
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<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Roger
Jolly [mailto:roger.j@sasktel.net] <BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Friday, November 23, 2007 2:56
PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> Pianotech
List<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: Heintzman
186 Conservatory Grand Problem</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Hi
Glenn,<BR>
A not so uncommon problem with some Heintzman grands, is pin block de
lamination. If some bright spark tried to tap a few a few tuning pins
with out supporting the block. Then Bingo! that will be your
problem.<BR><BR>Check to see if the strings are very close to the plate, that
will give you a good indicator. About 1/8" would be correct. <BR><BR>The
tenor section is particularly prone since the pins are so close
together. Closer than most piano's.<BR><BR>I have used a small jack and
couple of squares of Delignite maple cap material to spread the load on top of
the keys.<BR>Now easy does it. Gently jack up a little, then move the
jack a few inches and keep repeating, gently forcing the lamination up,
until you get that lamination back up.<BR><BR>Warning do not rush, and easy
does it, you have to be careful not to damage the keys.<BR><BR>Worst
case, I have had to put piano on it's side and start getting the keybed
apart. On Heintzman's they are both glued and doweled to the
rim. The pin block on this vintage is glued and doweled into the rim and
stretcher.<BR>Moral of the story, this can be a major job.<BR><BR>Hope
this gives you some thing to check<BR><BR>Regards
Roger.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>At 10:10 AM 11/23/2007, you
wrote:<BR><BR></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Today I went to a Heintzman 186 Conservatory Grand for
the first time. I believe that the serial number, (which was written in
invisible ink), is 250807. The customer says that it is 31 years old. It is
generally in pretty good condition. I was called in because of a noise in the
action. I immediately diagnosed the problem as a loose fastener on the hammer
rest rail. I went to pull the action and could not get it out because the
hammer flange screws were hitting on the stretcher board. The stretcher board
looks perfect and is solid. I loosened the lyre fastening screws, just in case
they might have been too long and might be projecting through the key bed. The
leg bolts were not protruding and the unicorda was functioning normally. I
backed off, (raised), the bedding screws a lot, (Id say at least three turns,
but I was not counting). I still could not get the action out. I was able to
flex the hammer flange rail and cause the key frame to give some. My
assumption is that the glide screws have been over-extended for a long period
of time and the key frame has been warped upwards and has taken on a set. I
advised the customer to allow the action to rest for a while, and perhaps the
key frame will relax. I told her to call me when the notes start double
striking.<BR> <BR>Did I miss anything? Is there something unusual about a
Heintzman which I am not aware of? Do you think my assumption might be
correct? If the action does not settle down, can you recommend a good method
for getting it out and back in? I cant see reducing the dimension of the
stretcher as the correct answer. They had to get it in somehow. Its entirely
possible that the action has seen no service in 31 years. Any suggestion is
appreciated<BR> <BR>Thank you,<BR>Glenn V.<BR>Key Note Piano
Service<BR> </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>