[pianotech] action center time bomb

[Paul McCloud]

Hi, Ron:
I'll concur with Ryan.  I've worked on these for a number of years.  Repinning is the "only way" to permanently fix the problem.  But, you knew that already.  Yes, it is typical of these to have flange sticking problems.  I've seen it mostly in the hammer flanges, but maybe that's because the most stress is on them.  Rest assured, you'll be back doing the rest of them soon.  
I have a N*ka grand in Coronado that had hammer flange problems from day one.  I put a flat "damppchaser" (different brand) inside the action under the hammer rail.  Low wattage.  No more problem.  If it's humid, you'll probably be easing the key bushings too.  Be ready to build up your hand muscles trying to ease the keys, since they are laminated.  They like to pop back where they were after you squeeze them.  I use a modified Vice Grip pliers to  ease the keys on them.  
Are We Having Fun Yet?
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Ryan Sowers 
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: 10/02/2010 10:01:51 AM 
Subject: Re: [pianotech] action center time bomb


I've encountered this a lot on older Samicks and Young Changs. I remember talking to Phil Glen about this when he worked for Young Chang, he claimed that the bushings were overly dense and with use they actually begin to unpack slightly causing the center to seize up. It's almost always the most used notes that have the problem. I don't think Alcohol and water will work in this type of situation. Reaming and changing pins is the way to go. More work for us! Yay! (As if there wasn't enough already!)

-- 
Ryan Sowers, RPT
Puget Sound Chapter
Olympia, WA
www.pianova.net


On Sat, Oct 2, 2010 at 9:32 AM, Ron Nossaman <rnossaman at cox.net> wrote:


I serviced a Nordiska grand yesterday. It wasn't that far out of tune, and being in the beginning of seasonal transition, it was a lousy time to be doing a church tuning. But - there was this sticking damper, you see, which was the real reason for the tuning.

I pulled the action, and crawled into the cavity with whatever light sources I could point in the general direction of the problem, and started looking. I centered the wire, eliminating side pressure on the bushing, and that helped, but didn't do it, so I pulled the wire. Yup, the post pinning was way tight. I dropped the sostenuto and raised the up stop rail out of the way, and got the under lever out. Yup, the flange pinning was way tight too. So I repinned and FINALLY managed to get the sucker back in (the screws are flat ended, and too hard to file). When I had the lever out, I showed the office resident what the problem was and promised him that this wasn't the end of it. I suggested doing the one for now, and when the others start seizing up too and force the issue, we could do the set then.

Now, for those of you with some experience with Nordiska, besides having the usual  painfully strident, thin, and LOUD sound, and the heaviest music desk on the planet (I like that one), is this center pinning thing typical?
Ron N
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