<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1 = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content=Word.Document name=ProgId> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1276" name=GENERATOR> <META content="Microsoft Word 9" name=Originator><LINK href="cid:filelist.xml@01C41965.6FE0A0C0" rel=File-List> <STYLE>@font-face { font-family: Comic Sans MS; } @font-face { font-family: Tahoma; } @page Section1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; = mso-header-margin: .5in; mso-footer-margin: .5in; mso-paper-source: 0; } P.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; = mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; = mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-style-parent: ""; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; = mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } A:visited { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; text-underline: single } P.MsoAutoSig { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoAutoSig { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoAutoSig { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; = mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman" } SPAN.EmailStyle17 { COLOR: windowtext; mso-style-type: personal; mso-ascii-font-family: = Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial } SPAN.EmailStyle18 { COLOR: navy; mso-style-type: personal-reply; mso-ascii-font-family: = Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; = mso-ansi-font-size: 10.0pt } DIV.Section1 { page: Section1 } </STYLE> <o:SmartTagType name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype><o:SmartTagType name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype><o:SmartTagType name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype></HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US style="tab-interval: .5in" vLink=purple = link=blue bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>Hi Ed,</DIV> <DIV>Treat the problem like the only two = correct things are the back rail cloth and the case parts relationship to the keys = and shimmy shimmy shimmy until you get the correct dip.</DIV> <DIV>If the key level is good shim evenly at = the balance rail to keep the level and make other adjustments at the front rail to = correct dip.</DIV> <DIV>Are the keys warped from being outside? </DIV> <DIV>Joe Goss <A href="mailto:imatunr@srvinet.com">imatunr@srvinet.com</A> <A href="http://www.mothergoosetools.com">www.mothergoosetools.com</A></DI= V> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black">From: <A title=DeanMay@PianoRebuilders.com href="mailto:DeanMay@PianoRebuilders.com">Dean May</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">To: <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2004 = 8:21 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Subject: RE: kimball = advice</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV class=Section1> I remember in the early days of working on pianos being leery of making = these kinds of adjustments. Actually it turns out to be the easiest way to = correct the kinds of problems you are facing. Don’t hesitate to shim the = balance or front rail (add or remove) to correct out of adjustment key dip, if = the out of adjustment is pervasive to an entire section, as you are seeing. I cut = strips of 3X5 cards for shim stock about ½ inch wide (you can use the = previous tuner’s card left in the piano in a pinch ;-) ). If you want to get = tricky, you can raise the sharps only or the whites only by shimming the = respective sides of the balance rail, instead of pushing the shim all the way = through. <o:p></o:p> <![if = !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p> Remember that generally you only need half as much on the balance rail as you = do the front rail. One or two thicknesses of card stock on the balance rail = will make a substantial difference. <o:p></o:p> <![if = !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p> And generally, my experience, is that only the balance rail needs shimmed = up. In your case, since it is happening in the middle, just shim at the bass = break and the treble break. No need to shim at the ends if key dip is good = there. <o:p></o:p> <![if = !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p> Why does it happen? Who knows. Sagging, humidity, felt compression, poor = factory set up, phase of moon change…<o:p></o:p> <![if = !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p> Dean<o:p></o:p> <![if = !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p> Dean May             cell 812.239.3359<o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.com   = 812.235.5272<o:p></o:p> Terre Haute IN  47802<o:p></o:p> <= SPAN class=EmailStyle18><![if = !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p> -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Ed = Carwithen Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2004 = 10:04 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: kimball advice <![if = !supportEmptyParas]><![endif]> <o:p></o:p> I was called to work on a Kimball console piano this week.  = Manufactured about 1957.  The name decal says kimballette?? It was 169 cents = flat.  I did a pitch raise and tune, and all went well.  The problem is = that the keys bottom out on the front rail felts before achieving let off. =  The dip is only about 6 mm.   I removed the keys and cleaned and = vacuumed, and also removed the key slip to measure the key = height.  The front rail of the key frame stands above the key bed some 3 or 4 = MM.  This is even across the front of the front rail key frame.  The = balance rail seems to be correct and bedded on the key bed.  The balance = rail felts are good, and appear to be sufficient in thickness.  The = front  rail that is high is consistent in being off of the key bed from = bass end of the piano to the treble.  There is dirt and trash between = the rail and the key bed that I did not try to clean out as I would have had to = remove the key frame to get to it.  There appears to be some sort of = spacer on a couple of the screws that hold down the key frame which seems to be = there specifically to keep the front rail spaced as it is.  It does not = appear that the frame or key bed is warped.  The piano has not been = worked on previously so I don’t think the problem is a former job gone bad.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> The piano was left in a garage for the past several years, and now has = been given to the present owner.  The finish is in good shape, and the = strings are clean and tuned up well, the pins are nice and tight.  The = balance rail and front rail felts are good as is the back cloth.  The keys are = not warped. <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Everything = looks like it would work well if I just removed the key frame, clean = underneath and replace it so that it is flat to the keybed.  Then the keys = should have proper dip, even if some adjustment with felts needs to be done.  = Should I just put in thicker balance rail felts to achieve the proper dip????<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> What am I missing?????  Does anyone have a suggestion as to why this = piano would have this type of problem.  Your thoughts would be gratefully accepted.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> I have a couple of weeks to figure it out while the owner is on a trip.  = I am to go back to work on the piano at the end of April…<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Ed Carwithen<o:p></o:p> PTG associate<o:p></o:p> <st1:place = w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">John = Day</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">OR</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML= >