[pianotech] Advice about intermittent note on Yamaha grand

[Ken & Pat Gerler]

Robert,
Having read other responses, one not mentioned, is to make sure the 
repetition lever of the whippen is glued down in its slot in the whippen. I 
have had that problem occur, not necessarily on a Yamaha, but that, among 
other items noted is a point to check.

Ken Gerler

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <rsfinley at charter.net>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 12:58 PM
Subject: [pianotech] Advice about intermittent note on Yamaha grand


>I have been having a problem with one of the keys, C6, on my Yamaha baby 
>grand piano. The note sometmes sounds and sometimes doesn't. If I play the 
>note repeatedly, quickly, it sometimes stops sounding. If I give it a rest 
>and then play it, it usually sounds again. When it stops sounding, the 
>hammer is not propelled as far as the string.
>
> I took the action out to inspect it and to compare it with the action of 
> the surrounding keys. It seems that when the note is played, the tip of 
> the jack doesn't protrude through the slot in the repetition lever as much 
> as for the other keys. I guess the tip of the jack has to stick through 
> the slot a certain amount to engage the hammer knuckle, in order to thrust 
> the  hammer towards the string, and it is just on the point of not being 
> far through enough.
>
> Please could you suggest what the solution might be? If I turn the Letoff 
> regulating screw so that the letoff button is lower, I think it might 
> cause the tip of the jack to stick through the slot in the repetition a a 
> little further because the jack toe will engage the letoff button punching 
> across a shorter distance than before, making it more certain that the 
> note will sound. Would this be the correct thing to adjust or is there 
> another alternative? (I didn't examine the knuckle to see if it is worn or 
> if there is a deep groove in it. It seemed to be OK)
>
> Thank you very much for your help.
>
> Robert Finley