Henry F. Miller fallboard problem

[Joe And Penny Goss]

Check to see if the bedding screws are turned up too high?
Joe Goss RPT
Mother Goose Tools
imatunr at srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Formsma" <formsma at gmail.com>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 9:33 AM
Subject: Henry F. Miller fallboard problem


> Two-year-old Henry F. Miller conservatory grand. I've tuned it 3 times
> in the last couple of years.
>
> Problem:
>
> Fallboard in raised position contacts back of sharps, pushing keys
> down slightly, and causing clacking upon key return.
>
> Not sure who to contact for tech support - my email to the Henry F.
> Miller contact (on the PTG site) was returned. Anyone know a current
> contact person? Pearl River?
>
> Mechanical stuff is not my strong suit really, but here's some
> observations that might help the mechanical geniuses solve the
> problem:
> 1. Slightly lifting the fallboard up alleviates the problem
> 2. The felt on the bottom of the fallboard (between the fallboard and
> sharps) was getting wedged between the fallboard and sharps, so I
> trimmed that flush. This made the clacking problem worse. It had
> originally affected one sharp, and by trimming, affected numerous
> sharps. (Ahh....so I learned something by that, and can easily replace
> the felt if necessary. I have to learn by trial and error
> sometimes...er, most of the time. <g>)
> 3. (This might be related if the keyboard is placed too far back in
> the action cavity.)  The G#6 backcheck wood is clacking on the metal
> sostenuto mechanism mounted on the belly rail.
> 4. All these problems have happened between the last tuning (4/13/06)
> and yesterday.
>
> My feeble thoughts <g> about a solution are like this:
>
> 1. I could put an even wider felt strip on the fallboard. This would
> indeed stop the clacking, but I think it would make the sharp key
> return sluggish. I'd rather solve the real problem anyway.
> 2. It looks like the two pins upon which the fallboard pivots could be
> moved up and in slightly. This would position the fallboard higher and
> the rubber buttons on the stretcher would cause the key end of the
> fallboard to be angled so it would be less likely to contact the
> sharps. (It might make the fallboard more prone to unwanted falling,
> and I would hate to plug and redrill only to find that it didn't
> work.) The hinges don't look to be adjustable.
> 3. Maybe inserting a small nail or screw into the fallboard hinge
> itself would prevent the fallboard from going down as far; hence,
> "raising" the fallboard. I like this idea since it's easily tried and
> removed without harm...but I didn't think of it yesterday while at the
> piano.
> 4. I could shift the bass end of the keyboard forward a bit, as it
> seems that more sharps toward the bass side are clacking on the
> fallboard. (This might help with the sostenuto clacking. There is not
> much clearance between the keyslip, but might be enough with some
> maneuvering.)
> 5. Pianos have "terrible twos" like kids, and it will grow out of it
eventually.
> 6. I could quit and find another profession or learn from you guys. <G>
> 7. There's probably a very easy solution that I'm totally missing. I
> generally miss the obvious in favor of something complex. Shouda been
> a bureaucrat I guess.
>
> Anyone run into this problem before? Any ideas?
>
> Thanks for any help.
>
> John Formsma