Fw: Return spring removal

[Michael Gamble]

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----- Original Message -----=20
From: Michael Gamble=20
To: Dave Bunch=20
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 8:37 PM
Subject: Re: Return spring removal


Hello Dave
In the UK we refer to these springs as "butt springs". There are three =
ways in which these are attached. They are either "sewn" in (as I am =
sure yours are) or they are pinned in. The third method is possibly they =
are sewn in to the damper slap rail - a particular USA method, not often =
found in the UK. When the sewn butt variety breaks off due to corrosion =
I usually dig out the end which is lying on the side of the butt with a =
watch makers screw driver. You know those little brass handled thin =
things about 3" long? It is best to dig these out that way to start off =
with, then to pull out the old spring by its coil. If they break off =
leaving bits irretrievably in a tight hole you can always make a new =
hole with a bit of 0.030" piano wire ground to a chisel point and using =
a dremel tool. To insert the new butt spring simply thread the unhooked =
end in the hole in the spring slot and pull through. I presume you have =
established the correct length of the hooked end from the old spring and =
that you have the correct  "R" or "L" coil according to which side of =
the slot the hole is drilled. Gosh! Did I really say all that? Having =
pulled the new spring through the first hole and the coil into the slot =
you then bend it back to stop it pulling back and push the end through =
the remaining hole, gently bending the brass wire to do so. Then with =
your thumb firmly holding the new springs' coil in the slot pull the =
tail end of the new spring tight. I use a little pair of round-nosed =
pliers for this job. Gosh again.
And good luck! Once done you'll never look back! It's all very labour =
intensive - a fact I always make a point of telling the client so they =
can appreciate the amount of work involved and the reason for the cost =
thereof. If you've got the action dismantled to this point don't forget =
to check that the set-off screws are able to be turned. If not heat them =
one by one with a low heat soldering iron, at the same time gently =
applying a turning pressure with the set-off tool. Gosh. Enough! new =
tapes of course! What are the damper springs like? Damper tail cloths? =
damper lift rod shiny and their little brass hinge brackets easy? Are =
the spoons nice and shiny? etc. etc.
Regards from a dark Sussex Village in the Downs
Michael G (UK)

  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Dave Bunch=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 6:35 PM
  Subject: Return spring removal


  Hello all;

  I am in the process of removing and replacing all of the hammer return =
springs on a stencil console.

  Having the rail removed, more than half have broken due to corrosion. =
All but about 16 I could grab the spring coil, or whatever is left and =
pull it all out in one piece. The tail goes through a hole, bends back =
and lays in a slot.

  Is the any trick to removing the remains of the stubborn ones? Prying =
in the slot with a knife blade was not successful. I had to stop for the =
day to go do my tunings.

  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I find irony that in twenty =
years I have never had to do this :-)

  Thanks

  Dave Bunch


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