<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1>The action is now regulated and the problem is “solved.” I did have to do one thing out of the ordinary to both regulate the action and eliminate the symptom caused by the problem. It took some extra time but the regulation—in the end—was normal. The problem will be resolved when the hammershanks are replaced with the proper knuckle location and diameter.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>ddf<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><div>Delwin D Fandrich<o:p></o:p>Piano Design & Fabrication<o:p></o:p>6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA<o:p></o:p>Phone  360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525<o:p></o:p><a href="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com">del@fandrichpiano.com </a>— <a href="mailto:ddfandrich@gmail.com">ddfandrich@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></div><o:p> </o:p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Gene Nelson Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2011 6:35 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Weekend puzzler<o:p></o:p></div></div><o:p> </o:p>Can you properly regulate the action – let-off, drop, aftertouch, rep spring tension, wink the jacks(rep lever height), checking in a normal range, key height normal? Any compromises with regulation?<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p><div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-align:center'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></div>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Delwin D Fandrich Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2011 5:33 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Weekend puzzler<o:p></o:p></div><o:p> </o:p>It was independent of the key.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Knuckle joints are solid. Or, at least, as solid as they ever were in Pratt, Read parts.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Knuckle fabric is stable.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Jack is clear in the repetition window. Jack and repetition pinning are good. Jack surface is smooth—or, at least, smooth enough. <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Repetition lever glue joints are good. Repetition lever springs are good. (But you’re really warm here.) The repetition spring is hooked to a silk cord just in front of the repetition lever height adjustment screw. There was nothing wrong with the silk loop.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>The knuckles are clear of their neighbors.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>The repetition lever buckskins are in good condition and are properly trimmed. (They are original to the piano.)<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>The drop screws—i.e., the repetition lever upstop screws—are in good condition.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>The repetition levers are not binding on the wippen rail.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>My finger joints are a bit stiff but the effect was the same no matter which finger was involved in depressing the keys.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>ddf<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p><div>Delwin D Fandrich<o:p></o:p>Piano Design & Fabrication<o:p></o:p>6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA<o:p></o:p>Phone  360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525<o:p></o:p><a href="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com">del@fandrichpiano.com </a>— <a href="mailto:ddfandrich@gmail.com">ddfandrich@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></div><o:p> </o:p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Gene Nelson Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2011 11:20 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Weekend puzzler<o:p></o:p></div></div><o:p> </o:p>Is it independent of the key – can you lift the whippen with your finger and sense the same resistance?<o:p></o:p>Knuckle joints are solid?<o:p></o:p>Knuckle fabric is stable?<o:p></o:p>Jack is clear in rep window, jack and rep pinning are ok, jack surface is smooth, rep lever glue joints are ok? Rep lever spring/seat are ok?<o:p></o:p>Knuckle is clear of neighbors.<o:p></o:p>Drop screw buck skin on rep lever in good condition and trimmed ok?<o:p></o:p>Drop screw loose, rough or dirty surface?<o:p></o:p>Rep lever not binding on whippen rail.<o:p></o:p>You have arthritis in your finger, try a different finger.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><div><div style='margin-left:36.0pt'><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-align:center'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></div></div>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Delwin D Fandrich Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2011 9:23 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Weekend puzzler<o:p></o:p></div><o:p> </o:p>Nope. But we’re warming up.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>ddf<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><div>Delwin D Fandrich<o:p></o:p>Piano Design & Fabrication<o:p></o:p>6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA<o:p></o:p>Phone  360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525<o:p></o:p><a href="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com">del@fandrichpiano.com </a>— <a href="mailto:ddfandrich@gmail.com">ddfandrich@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></div><o:p> </o:p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Gene Nelson Sent: Saturday, July 16, 2011 9:11 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Weekend puzzler<o:p></o:p></div></div><o:p> </o:p>Rep lever too low, jack too far under knuckle, knuckle fabric fibers resisting jack escapement?<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><div><div style='margin-left:36.0pt'><div style='margin-left:36.0pt'><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-align:center'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></div></div></div>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Delwin D Fandrich Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 11:09 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: [pianotech] Weekend puzzler<o:p></o:p></div><o:p> </o:p>The piano is a 1928 Chickering Model M, Scale 141 (small concert size). The problem is this:<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>As the key is depressed slowly—pianissimo—for the first millimeter or so the key and hammer move smoothly. Then something starts binding, it feels like something in the action is dragging, holding the key and action back. After forcing the key down another three or four millimeters action becomes free and everything operates normally. On a medium to hard blow there is good power and the problem is hardly noticeable but at pianissimo the action will hardly play.<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>What is the problem and what caused it?<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>ddf<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Delwin D Fandrich<o:p></o:p>Piano Design & Fabrication<o:p></o:p>6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA<o:p></o:p>Phone  360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525<o:p></o:p><a href="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com">del@fandrichpiano.com </a>— <a href="mailto:ddfandrich@gmail.com">ddfandrich@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p></div></body></html>