Cleaning primary valves

[Stephen Powell]

Ric, are you sure that the pouches aren't holding the valves up?  If the
pouches are old, then they may well have shrunk.  Sometime primaries can be
a pain.  Be absolutely certain that the faces of the valve are square to the
stem.  Also, sometimes even if the leather looks good, it is not.  Try
replacing the leather on one of the offenders and see how you get on.

It is late here, and for now, that is all I can think of to suggest.  Good
luck!

Stephen Powell
Auckland, NZ
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Moody <remoody@midstatesd.net>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Thursday, 24 February 2000 09:52 PM
Subject: Re: Cleaning primary valves


>
>> Set the gap
>> at about 0.030", and put a dab of hide glue or Titebond on top of the
>> button around the stem. Repeat as necessary until all the problem valves
>> are done. When the glue dries, reassemble and test.
>>
>> Is that better?
>>
>> Ron N
>
>: )   Much better, and thanks for the gap, I forgot to ask that.   It seems
>no more than .030".  Those suckers barely move.   I tested each one for
>seating, and some of them for no apparent reason at all didn't seat so
good.
>I disassembled them in a manner you prescribed, I was able to push the the
>stems down rather than tap them.  Then I had to twist and pull them off by
>hand.  I suppose I could have driven them out.   Every thing looked clean
>and when I placed just the top part on the seat they struck down good as
>gold but when I put them back on the stem and tried them they "leaked"
>again.  Suddenly they would pop down and be tight.  That was not good
>enough, so back apart they came and once again, by themselves they stuck
>down to the seat like glue when tested.  Reassembled though, they
>leaked---even when pressed down with the thumb.  Yet when the top part was
>pushed all the way down so there was no travel it held tight as a drum.
>    Unless you know already, I will really be surprised if you can tell me
>what is going on.   It is an unfair question.   It would help to have the
>valve board on the bench to figure it out.  Now it seems like these
>primaries shouldn't work at all.  Of course look at all the players
>including Standard that did away with them.  Hold over from 64 note players
>is my guess.    ---ric
>
>