Pianotech

  • 1.  Hammer butt spring repair question

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-14-2018 16:44
    1980 Kohler & Campbell 1057 console with Pratt Read action. 

    Customer purchased this piano only a couple of years ago from a rebuilder who had done some satisfactory work on it. That work included replacement of all the hammer butt springs. Customers complaint was that the action was too heavy. And it was. On my first visit I simply massaged the butt springs back a little and it helped a lot. On my most recent visit she hinted that they were still a bit too heavy, and perhaps they were. Anyway, I went in and massaged them all back a bit more, but in the process one of them broke right at the point where the long part of the spring, the one that makes contact with the butt, leaves the spring coil. Naturally the one that broke was right in the middle of the piano. (- sigh -) As a quick fix, (I have never had to replace one of these springs before so I don't have any), I stole the spring C8 and just swapped it out. Now I need to replace that spring on C8. Schaff carries them, but shipping is WAY more expensive that the part itself. I remember reading here, perhaps a couple of years ago, that it is possible to simply make a new spring. So...

    Today's question: How does one make a new hammer butt spring? What kind of wire, etc?

    Thanks --

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    Geoff Sykes, RPT
    Los Angeles CA
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  • 2.  RE: Hammer butt spring repair question

    Posted 01-14-2018 17:59
    You can get a screw-on replacement, or used to be able to, I don't know it they are still available. Someone has some. You can make a spring out of music wire. Those OEM parts migth be .022" or .028"; either was, 12 1/2 gage or 13 gage wire would certainly be sufficient on C8.

    Weaken the damper springs to further lighten the action. Jack springs would be next.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
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