This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Hi Ed, 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. 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. Are the keys warped from being outside?=20 Joe Goss imatunr@srvinet.com www.mothergoosetools.com ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Dean May=20 To: Pianotech=20 Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2004 8:21 AM Subject: RE: kimball advice 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 =BD 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.=20 =20 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.=20 =20 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.=20 =20 Why does it happen? Who knows. Sagging, humidity, felt compression, = poor factory set up, phase of moon change. =20 Dean =20 Dean May cell 812.239.3359 PianoRebuilders.com 812.235.5272 Terre Haute IN 47802 =20 -----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 =20 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. =20 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.=20 =20 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???? =20 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. =20 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. =20 Ed Carwithen PTG associate John Day, OR =20 =20 ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/53/07/b1/84/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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