perpetually sticking keys

[Barbara Richmond]

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Tom,

Are the keys actually staying all the way down or just not returning all =
the way and not repeating well?

If it's a repeating problem, you might check to see if the hammer =
springs are too strong.  It seems like a majority of the time when I've =
had to deal with hammer springs, the damper springs have been too =
strong, too.  When those springs are too strong the action has a real =
"resistant" touch--like the damper lift is too soon.

I sort of remember a mystery sticky key situation on a new Kawai that I =
had to deal with a billion years ago---there was something wrong with =
the mortice--not long enough (front to back) or deep (height wise) =
enough.  Can't quite remember, but I know I took care of it after Ray =
Chandler (the company rep at the time) got me on the right track. =20


Barbara Richmond

  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Tvak@aol.com=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Sunday, January 23, 2005 9:09 AM
  Subject: perpetually sticking keys


  List

  I got in too deep this time.  I sold a little spinet piano last month. =
I had replaced the damper felts, key bushings, and keytops.  I included =
a free tuning and although there was no written guarantee, I promised =
her that the piano was in good working order.  Which it was. =20

  While the piano was in my posession, I did have ALOT of trouble =
getting the keys eased so that they would return promptly.  Every time I =
went out to the shop I'd find another key that wouldn't come back up, =
but I thought I had them all taken care of.  And if she had any =
problems, I planned to install lead weights on the back of the keys.

  Which I did, two weeks ago, when she called to tell me that there were =
a couple of sticking keys.  With the weights installed, I figured that =
would be the last I'd hear from her.=20

  Nope.

  She called yesterday with more sticking keys.  Now, it's winter here =
in Chicago, the indoor climate is dry, compared to spring, which is only =
a few months away.  If she's having problems now, oh boy.

  My question is: what the heck can I do next?  I've eased the keys from =
here till Sunday.   I put the lead weights all the way at the back of =
the key for maximum effect.  I polished the keypins and sprayed them =
with TFL50. I don't know what to do next to get myself out of this =
quagmire.  I want her to be satisfied with this instrument.  I want to =
stop driving the 25 miles to her house.

  HELP!

  Tom Sivak
  Chicago PTG Associate 
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