Pianotech

There is plenty of information and instructions on tying a broken wound
string at the top (tuning pin) end. I found the missing piano string in
the bottom of an upright with the tuning pin coil still intact, but was
missing the hitch pin loop (loop was long gone, I looked). The problem
is trying to calculate the right length of new string at the hitch pin
end so the winding of the bi-chord string is close to it's neighbor at
the other (tuning pin) end and is clear of the bridge pins. I tried to
form a new hitch pin loop and tied a knot to the string, but my guess
was off by about a quarter inch (too long) and the knot ended up in the
middle of the bridge. I removed the string and left it at the bottom of
the piano for another day. Of course I could always order another
string for the nearly 50 year old Story and Clark, but was trying to
effect a less expensive solution.

Mr. Shearer,

I just had this happen to me yesterday morning. Thankfully the local chapter meeting was last night, so I posed the very question that you asked. 

The consensus was that, because the string didn't break at the tuning pin end, it was probably defective in the first place and finally popped. I was advised to get a new string. Even though it is possible to splice it, unless it is an emergency, it will probably break again as soon as it's brought up to pitch. This time with all the time, effort and frustration that you put in behind it. 

If you have to make a return trip anyway, you might as well order the new string and install that instead of splicing. 

Hope this helps,

------------------------------
Benjamin Sanchez
Professional Piano Services
(805)315-8050
www.professional-piano-services.com
BenPianoPro@comcast.net
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2017 06:51
From: David Shearer
Subject: Piano string broken at hitch pin

There is plenty of information and instructions on tying a broken wound
string at the top (tuning pin) end. I found the missing piano string in
the bottom of an upright with the tuning pin coil still intact, but was
missing the hitch pin loop (loop was long gone, I looked). The problem
is trying to calculate the right length of new string at the hitch pin
end so the winding of the bi-chord string is close to it's neighbor at
the other (tuning pin) end and is clear of the bridge pins. I tried to
form a new hitch pin loop and tied a knot to the string, but my guess
was off by about a quarter inch (too long) and the knot ended up in the
middle of the bridge. I removed the string and left it at the bottom of
the piano for another day. Of course I could always order another
string for the nearly 50 year old Story and Clark, but was trying to
effect a less expensive solution.

If the "easy" fix doesn't go well, the fiddling can cost you more than just replacing it would. It depends partly on what you have decided your hourly wage for repairs is.

------------------------------
Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2017 06:51
From: David Shearer
Subject: Piano string broken at hitch pin

There is plenty of information and instructions on tying a broken wound
string at the top (tuning pin) end. I found the missing piano string in
the bottom of an upright with the tuning pin coil still intact, but was
missing the hitch pin loop (loop was long gone, I looked). The problem
is trying to calculate the right length of new string at the hitch pin
end so the winding of the bi-chord string is close to it's neighbor at
the other (tuning pin) end and is clear of the bridge pins. I tried to
form a new hitch pin loop and tied a knot to the string, but my guess
was off by about a quarter inch (too long) and the knot ended up in the
middle of the bridge. I removed the string and left it at the bottom of
the piano for another day. Of course I could always order another
string for the nearly 50 year old Story and Clark, but was trying to
effect a less expensive solution.

My experience is also only trial and error. Sometimes this is associated with flood damage, so I would take a good look for corrosion on the strings as well as rust on the casters.

------------------------------
Peter Stevenson RPT
P.S. Piano Service
Prince George BC
250-562-5358
ps@pspianoservice.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2017 15:51
From: Susan Kline
Subject: Piano string broken at hitch pin

If the "easy" fix doesn't go well, the fiddling can cost you more than just replacing it would. It depends partly on what you have decided your hourly wage for repairs is.

------------------------------
Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2017 06:51
From: David Shearer
Subject: Piano string broken at hitch pin

There is plenty of information and instructions on tying a broken wound
string at the top (tuning pin) end. I found the missing piano string in
the bottom of an upright with the tuning pin coil still intact, but was
missing the hitch pin loop (loop was long gone, I looked). The problem
is trying to calculate the right length of new string at the hitch pin
end so the winding of the bi-chord string is close to it's neighbor at
the other (tuning pin) end and is clear of the bridge pins. I tried to
form a new hitch pin loop and tied a knot to the string, but my guess
was off by about a quarter inch (too long) and the knot ended up in the
middle of the bridge. I removed the string and left it at the bottom of
the piano for another day. Of course I could always order another
string for the nearly 50 year old Story and Clark, but was trying to
effect a less expensive solution.

I've found that long tenor strings can break at the hitch pin if they are corroded by rodent urine.

You know, it's been awhile since I've had to work on a severely mouse-infested piano. I don't miss it.

------------------------------
Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2017 16:36
From: Peter Stevenson
Subject: Piano string broken at hitch pin

My experience is also only trial and error. Sometimes this is associated with flood damage, so I would take a good look for corrosion on the strings as well as rust on the casters.

------------------------------
Peter Stevenson RPT
P.S. Piano Service
Prince George BC
250-562-5358
ps@pspianoservice.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2017 15:51
From: Susan Kline
Subject: Piano string broken at hitch pin

If the "easy" fix doesn't go well, the fiddling can cost you more than just replacing it would. It depends partly on what you have decided your hourly wage for repairs is.

------------------------------
Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2017 06:51
From: David Shearer
Subject: Piano string broken at hitch pin

There is plenty of information and instructions on tying a broken wound
string at the top (tuning pin) end. I found the missing piano string in
the bottom of an upright with the tuning pin coil still intact, but was
missing the hitch pin loop (loop was long gone, I looked). The problem
is trying to calculate the right length of new string at the hitch pin
end so the winding of the bi-chord string is close to it's neighbor at
the other (tuning pin) end and is clear of the bridge pins. I tried to
form a new hitch pin loop and tied a knot to the string, but my guess
was off by about a quarter inch (too long) and the knot ended up in the
middle of the bridge. I removed the string and left it at the bottom of
the piano for another day. Of course I could always order another
string for the nearly 50 year old Story and Clark, but was trying to
effect a less expensive solution.

I performed this repair several times.  Usually the string broke either at the hitch pin or due to rust forming in the string braid.  The trick is to tie the knot  first and then assume you will lose at least 1/4 inch in length when  everything is tightened up. I use a jig that allows me to set the tail loop very accurately.  That being said I have had to make the tail repair twice to get it right when  everything was brought up to pitch.

------------------------------
Norman Cantrell
Piano Clinic
Lawton OK
580-355-5003
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2017 16:47
From: Susan Kline
Subject: Piano string broken at hitch pin

I've found that long tenor strings can break at the hitch pin if they are corroded by rodent urine.

You know, it's been awhile since I've had to work on a severely mouse-infested piano. I don't miss it.

------------------------------
Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2017 16:36
From: Peter Stevenson
Subject: Piano string broken at hitch pin

My experience is also only trial and error. Sometimes this is associated with flood damage, so I would take a good look for corrosion on the strings as well as rust on the casters.

------------------------------
Peter Stevenson RPT
P.S. Piano Service
Prince George BC
250-562-5358
ps@pspianoservice.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2017 15:51
From: Susan Kline
Subject: Piano string broken at hitch pin

If the "easy" fix doesn't go well, the fiddling can cost you more than just replacing it would. It depends partly on what you have decided your hourly wage for repairs is.

------------------------------
Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-13-2017 06:51
From: David Shearer
Subject: Piano string broken at hitch pin

There is plenty of information and instructions on tying a broken wound
string at the top (tuning pin) end. I found the missing piano string in
the bottom of an upright with the tuning pin coil still intact, but was
missing the hitch pin loop (loop was long gone, I looked). The problem
is trying to calculate the right length of new string at the hitch pin
end so the winding of the bi-chord string is close to it's neighbor at
the other (tuning pin) end and is clear of the bridge pins. I tried to
form a new hitch pin loop and tied a knot to the string, but my guess
was off by about a quarter inch (too long) and the knot ended up in the
middle of the bridge. I removed the string and left it at the bottom of
the piano for another day. Of course I could always order another
string for the nearly 50 year old Story and Clark, but was trying to
effect a less expensive solution.

Thank you Norman. Please describe (or better yet, attach a photo) your
jig.


Original Message------

I performed this repair several times.  Usually the string broke either at the hitch pin or due to rust forming in the string braid.  The trick is to tie the knot  first and then assume you will lose at least 1/4 inch in length when  everything is tightened up. I use a jig that allows me to set the tail loop very accurately.  That being said I have had to make the tail repair twice to get it right when  everything was brought up to pitch.

------------------------------
Norman Cantrell
Piano Clinic
Lawton OK
580-355-5003
------------------------------