<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 5.50.4522.1801" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#b8b8b8> <DIV><SPAN class=570484818-11042001><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Hi,</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=570484818-11042001><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>I = have a fibre optic extension, which fits on my Maglite, and is ideal for these situations.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=570484818-11042001><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>I = think in a previous post, someone said they got theirs at Wal-Mart, I got mine at = an auto parts</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=570484818-11042001><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>store.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=570484818-11042001><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>I = don't, as a rule shim, I just use a bigger pin. The split quite possibly is only in = one lamination,</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=570484818-11042001><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>so = the others hold it. The inspection of the hole, will give a good indication, if it = will work.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=570484818-11042001><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>I = only do this if it is just a few, and it is to put off the inevitable, for a while more, = as not everyone</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=570484818-11042001><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>can = afford another piano.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=570484818-11042001><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>I = have had good luck with plugs, but once again, only if it a few.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=570484818-11042001><FONT color=#0000ff = size=2>Otherwise a new pinblock is called for.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=570484818-11042001><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Regards,</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=570484818-11042001><FONT color=#0000ff = size=2>John M. Ross</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <P><FONT size=2>piano.tech@ns.sympatico.ca </FONT></P> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT = face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> = owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Richard Brekne<BR><B>Sent:</B> April 11, 2001 1:29 PM<BR><B>To:</B> pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Bummer old upright (Starr)<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>Could be Joe. I started years ago carrying = some sort of little flashlite around with me to inspect as closely as I = could the insides of any tunning pinhole when I decide to pull a pin for = replacement. If there is a crack I want to know about it if I can so I can help the = customer decide best what to do about it. <P>These days Maglite makes these great little mini Mags.... works = perfectly for inspecting tuningpin holes. <P>Joseph Garrett wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE="CITE"> <STYLE></STYLE> <FONT face=Arial>IMHO when you shimmed the loose pins, that spread = the existing crack in the pin block, causing neighbor pins to become = loose. You probably exacerbated the situation, unknowingly. I've been there. = It's time to say the "last rites" on that one.</FONT><FONT face=Arial>Regards,</FONT><FONT face=Arial>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <P>-- <BR>Richard Brekne <BR>RPT, N.P.T.F. <BR>Bergen, Norway <BR><A href="mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no">mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no</A> = <BR>  </P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>