[pianotech] hammer return noise

[Tom Driscoll]

Gene,
 I serviced a 15 year old Wurlie-Samick 5' grand today that had very little wear and LOTS of action noise.On a sample note to demonstrate -sell a day of service I did the following.Tightened both action screws and action rail to bracket screws. Adjusted lettoff ,drop and blow for appropriate aftertouch .
 Weakened a jerky -too strong rep spring, adjusted jack to knuckle position and "winked" the hammer with the returning jack with a more pronounced wink than I usually adjust for. Sugar coated the knuckle leather with shallow needling and made a few passes with the needle  laterally through the knuckle core. Keys were not pully. I did not work on the whippen cushion or jack regulating punching and left my teflon powder in the shop so I was unable to lube the knuckle.
 Action noise was dramatically reduced and with further attention I would expect the action to be even quieter .
 I was thinking of this thread and in combination these adjustments solved a symptom such as you have described.
I believe the rock hard knuckle condition and the jack regulating punching slamming into the spoon from too far away were the main culprits here.
With one note adjusted and it's neighbor still click and clacking the comparison sold the job.
Tom Driscoll    R.P.Tired
 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Gene Nelson 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 9:54 PM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] hammer return noise


  Hello Jer,
  Thanks for your reply.
  The whippens are new and the let off button felts are new as well. 
  Fact is that I can depress the key only a mm or two, just enough to lift the hammer - let it fall and get unwelcome noise on many keys. The jack is not being engaged nor is the drop screw nor does the hammer fall hard enough to touch the rest rail.
  Today I was able to quiet several - mostly by refining jack knuckle alignment and slightly rounding the far edge of the jack top.
  Still have a few things to try.
  Gene
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Gerald Groot 
    To: pianotech at ptg.org 
    Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 6:09 PM
    Subject: Re: [pianotech] hammer return noise


    Hi Gene,

     

    I haven't had time to read everything but, I haven't (unless I missed it-probably did-) noticed that you checked the felt that the jack hits upon returning. If it is worn, hard or compacted, it too, could possibly be the problem?  Have you doodled around with the jack tender just slapping it back and forth to see if anything in that area is noisy?  Just another thought.

     

    Jer

     

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100302/82ba56ef/attachment.htm>