Noisy action

[jolly roger]

Hi Jeannie,
                  A check list for some obscureaction noises that comes to
mind.  In no Particular order.

1.   Jack adjustment button,  if the button felt is too hard it can make
quite a racket when it hits the spoon.  Replacement is the best solution.
2.   Knuckles, under felt and leather, if they are too hard,  this will
make a lot of noise. You can stretch the leather a little rolling a needle
between the felt and leather.  But replacement is the prefered solution.
3.   Rest rail felt, combined with poor hammer shank clearance, and weak
rep springs.  Or rest rail set too high.  Thickness of a hammer shank is
about right. 
4.   Key bedding.  Well, I know that you know how to check that.  but
remember the back rail. If the BR is too high, it is possible for the FR
and BR to be bedded fine, but the back rail is slapping.  If this is the
probem,5.   Unicorda lever height.  Some times its just a little too long,
and will lift the action off the bed a tad.  Lots of funny noises.
 6.  Dags too loose, causing keyframe to slap. Use a few thicknesses of
masking tape to build up the frame so it is nice and snug, to check.    If
it is the cause, glue a strip of veneer on the top side of the frame, then
sand to fit. Back and front rails should be checked and fitted with the
glide bolts backed out first, for best results.   Expect some major dip/
key height work if this is the cause 
7.   Cheek blocks too tight causing action to bow up in the centre. 
8.   Back rail key felt glued down on the back edge.  The felt is too hard
or has been soaked with too much glue. I note you say it was glued
incorrectly.  I would think of replacing one strip, to check.
9.   Chucking keys or loose BR bushings.
10.  High strike weight for the frame rigidity,  nature of the beasty.
Possible with many German hammers and a light frame.

Just some ramblings that may help
Regards Roger    




At 08:56 AM 6/6/01 -0700, you wrote:
>Hello All,
>I'm wondering if many of you have had a chance to tune a new Charles Walter
>Grand?  I finally got a chance yesterday.  Lovely instrument.  But the
>complaint from the customer was about "excessive action noise".  This is
>specifically the noise that appears when the action parts (wippens, hammers,
>keys) are dropping back to rest position.  Of course this happens in every
>action, but it did seem rather noisy for a piano of this quality with a
>Renner action.  I'm wondering if this is typical of this piano and what
>might be done to improve it?
>
>The keyframe did need a little bedding but I noticed no appreciable
>difference in the noise after correcting that.  The rest of the regulation
>was close enough to expect less noise.  The back rail cloth was glued on one
>edge only, but it was the rear edge, which is the opposite to what I would
>expect.  I loosened the glue joint under the cloth in some spots expecting
>to hear a huge difference, but no appreciable change. All rails, flanges,
>brackets, etc. that are supposed to be tight, were tight.
>
>Anyone have similar experience with this piano or any more ideas for this
>sort of thing in general?
>
>Thanks,
>jeannie
>
>Jeannie Grassi, RPT
>Associate Editor, Piano Technicians Journal
>mailto:jgrassi@silverlink.net
>