I rewhatevered a little Estey a couple years ago (this is an Estey? Correct?). But it had an easily removable action. You are right that the stretcher is not at all attached to the pinblock - but I had always assumed these stretchers on most any piano are mortised somehow into the rim - likely not something you want to remove unless absolutely necessary. In fact, I just remembered, the stretcher on mine was loose - you could rotate it just a hair - almost like it was held into the side with a dowel - likely just a sloppy mortise job - but even though it was loose, it was not about to just fall out - if you want to remove it, I'm pretty sure it will only happen with a saw in your hand (or a hatchet?). P.S. - be careful with those VIOLIN BRIDGES!!! Terry Farrell ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Spalding" <spalding48@earthlink.net> To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2003 10:53 PM Subject: Re: captured action > > Ron, answers to your questions inserted below. Thanks for your interest. > > Mike > > > [Original Message] > > From: Ron Nossaman <RNossaman@cox.net> > > To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>; <spalding48@earthlink.net> > > Date: 5/27/2003 9:37:30 PM > > Subject: Re: captured action > > > > > > >I need help figuring out how to get the action out of an Estey baby > grand. > > >As it sits, the bass hammers are 1/4 to 1/2 inch higher than the bottom > of > > >the stretcher. Blow distance is 2", the shanks are settled firmly on the > > >rest rail felt. > > > > Terrific, another "locked door murder" puzzle. I assume the perpetrator > > wasn't a criminal genius, so the action was gotten in there somehow, then > > something fairly simple (I hope) was changed. Does the stretcher look > > "painted in" where it contacts the rim, or is there an obvious gap > between > > the two? > > Looks "painted" (lacquered, actually) in, but also looks like it's been > messed up a little over the years. No gap. This is the mystery attachment > point. > > Is there no contact at all between stretcher and pinblock, as in - > > can you insert something between the two so it can be seen underneath and > > slide it from rim to rim without hitting anything? > > No contact between the stretcher and pinblock. 1cm or more gap. > > > > Is there enough compression slack to the shank rest felts to insert a > piece > > of poster board between the spreader and hammers and shoehorn the action > > out with it? Does raising the glide bolts get you any clearance? > > No compression slack in the rest felt. I should have said "shanks are > settled firmly into the rest rail felt" > > > With a two inch blow distance, and no clearance at the stretcher, > something > > is really strange. What's the key dip, by the way? > > Key dip is around 3/8, not enough to achieve let-off on most notes. This > piano was recently inherited and moved from Gramma's on the coast hasn't > been played since no-one remembers when, now they're wondering what it > would take to make it playable. (So am I ) > > > > > Ron N > > > _______________________________________________ > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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