[pianotech] Advice about intermittent note on Yamaha grand

[Robin Stevens]

I think that Robert gave his non tech status away when he called his piano a "baby grand" No piano tuners I know of refers to any model grand as "a baby"
The problem to me sounds definitely a tight jack centre...OK...what's next?....tell a novice how to re centre a tight jack?...or tell him where to buy Protek etc?...where does it end? If he is a serious pianist, this piano should be tuned and serviced regularly..or, is he trying to bypass regular tuning and servicing by a qualified tuner?

Robin 


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Ken & Pat Gerler
Sent: Sunday, 14 February 2010 10:21 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Advice about intermittent note on Yamaha grand

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