[pianotech] Yamaha U1

[David Lawson Pianos]

I am a little concerned at the prospect of adding lubricants to bushing cloth. Some years ago, and maybe even now, some manufacturers added silicone to their bushing cloth, thinking that it would improve the smoothness of the touch etc. However, this method only seemed to exacerbate the problem of squeaky bushings in keys. Some Korean pianos had this problem here, and re-bushing was the only guaranteed way of fixing it. This, of course, was replacing the cloth with top quality material without additives.
There is nothing like good felt to last, and give good service. Let's face it, some of the 100 year old pianos still have the original bushing felt in them, and still work fine, without squeaks.
David Lawson. Wangaratta Australia
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: tom 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 12:46 PM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] Yamaha U1


  Matthew,

  Ditto to the rebush suggestions already posted, but in my experience with these U-1,2,3 's or P-22-202 etc. the front rail bushing to front rail pin is often noisy.

  I agree that worn balance rail bushings and front rail bushings for that matter need to be replaced for several reasons but it's possible that the squeak is from the front rail . Hold the key at the front with your thumb and index finger and depress slowly whilst applying pressure to one side then the other. Often the squeak will be pronounced on one side and gone on the other side even without significant bushing wear. 

    If so, remove all the keys . I apply the thinnest possible film of V.J.lube(Teflon powder version) to the pins . I'm not talking about smearing the stuff, but a tiny-TINY bit on the fingers and apply to all the front rail pins. Not enough to see ,but enough to barely coat the surface that contacts the bushing. 

     I do this especially on school pianos where the budgets are so tight that anything but tuning will never get approved. 

  Your private customer may be a different story where polishing the pins followed by Mclube 1725L spray, Teflon powder on the cloth or rebushing is a worthy sell.

  I'm not suggesting that quick and easy is necessarily the highest level of service, but a quick and easy fix that solves the problem is better than leaving a piano with that creaky, squeaky noise.

              All this said ,and it might not be the front rail after all  and don't ignore the capstan - whippen cushion contact or  damper lever springs or spoon to damper lever cloth as a source of squeak either.

  Go to it my friend.

  Tom D.

     

   
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