[pianotech] Player Repairs

[Duaine Hechler]

Chip,

Over the years, I have been involved with several such cases. Bottom line, unless they are willing to have it - all - 
rebuilt again, then politely let the customer know and walk away.

Case in point, I have one NOW that was rebuilt about 20 years ago, however, it had been stored in a barn all those 
years. The customer absolutely could not wait until I could do the whole thing (2015), so she asked me to "piece meal" 
my fixes. I started off with a new suction box (she didn't want to have to pump it ever again) and still nothing would 
play - as a matter of fact, all of the notes would play even with the tracker bar taped off. So I took the upper stack 
home, diagnosed that the rubber tubing connecting from the lead tubing and the tracker bar - all of it had dried up and 
had broken off. OK problem one found and fixed. Number 2, most of the 88 pneumatics were as still as a board - but she 
didn't want all of those recovered. However, due to mice, I had to recover 6 pneumatics - so 6 out of 88 were pliable. 
Oh, yes, 3 of the pneumatics had to have their pouches glued back in place - without taking the pneumatic apart - what a 
treat. Bench tested everything and all was well - or so I thought. Reinstalled the stack and tried to play several 
rolls. Keep in mind, she thought everything was going to work GREAT - just in time for a family party. Even with the new 
suction box going full blast, the pneumatics were still to stiff to play the notes and make any since out of the roll.

So, she spent around $1500 and still no playing player piano. So we left it as is for now, in hopes that the pneumatics 
will limber up enough to play the notes in a couple of months.

Good luck, Duaine

On 03/12/2012 07:44 PM, chip tuthill wrote:
> I have to visit a ~90 year old Gulbransen with a non working player mechanism. The owner had it "rebuilt" some 25 
> years ago. I have not worked on a player before, other than removing & reinstalling. The unit was working fine before 
> the piano was stored for several years. I plan on 1) making sure the controls are set properly so if can play, 2) 
> checking to see if the bellows are supplying air  to the transmission, 3) start checking for leaks elsewhere.
>
> How long should I plan on replacing the bellows cloth, should it be necessary? I'll get a copy of Reblitz's book if 
> the owner wants me to try and fix the player
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chip Tuthill.


-- 
Duaine Hechler
Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ
Tuning, Servicing&  Rebuilding
Reed Organ Society Member
Florissant, MO 63034
(314) 838-5587
dahechler at att.net
www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com
--
Home&  Business user of Linux - 11 years