Pianotech

  • 1.  Steinway Puzzle- How to remove the action.....

    Member
    Posted 05-10-2018 14:22
    I tuned this piano today and I wanted to check out some sluggish keys in the high treble but was unable to remove the action. 
    Following the first rule of brain surgery and piano service (first, do no harm..) I aborted the mission and closed up the patient. 

    I felt like I would have needed to force the action out and I just wasn't comfortable doing that so I let well enough alone. 
    I thought I'd post to the PTG group to see if there is something I may need to know about this particular piano in order to remove the action. 

    After dismantling the piano it seemed like the action should slide right out, but it only moved an inch or so, then stopped as if it was hitting something solid. 

    Any ideas? 




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    Sean Stafford
    Endicott NY
    607-239-4643
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  • 2.  RE: Steinway Puzzle- How to remove the action.....
    Best Answer

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-10-2018 14:47
    As it appears to be a fromer player piano, I'm guessing you'll need to remove the lyre. I have no actual experience with this, just a suggestion.

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    Larry Messerly, RPT
    Bringing Harmony to Homes
    www.lacrossepianotuning.com
    ljmesserly@gmail.com
    928-899-7292
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Steinway Puzzle- How to remove the action.....

    Posted 05-10-2018 15:20
    Correct, the lyre has to be removed to gain access to the 3 union blocks which ran tubing lines thru the keyframe. Since the Dou-Art is no longer installed, there might be only one block which the unicorda pedal engages to shift the action.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Steinway Puzzle- How to remove the action.....

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-10-2018 19:23
    Yes, that has been my experience too.

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Steinway Puzzle- How to remove the action.....

    Member
    Posted 05-10-2018 23:11
    it is also possible that screws holding the lyre and legs are too long and either in the way of the action frame snagging it or some of the screws are holding down the frame to the keybed. just had that situation on a grand with some of the screws going into the frame and some others blocking the rail. of course the other advice given could still be the cause

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    James Kelly
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Steinway Puzzle- How to remove the action.....

    Posted 05-11-2018 04:18
    I agree with James Kelly. I’ve a customer with a Steinway M. At some time someone replace the screw in the right leg block with a longer one, perhaps in a move. It hung up the action after an inch of easing the keyframe out. Took me a long time to figure that one out. Guess once in a while we need a humility dream to tame the ego a wee bit. A little scary until it got replaced with the right size.

    Sent from my iPad


    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Steinway Puzzle- How to remove the action.....

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-11-2018 08:41
    Jon Page is correct.  Remove the lyre then look up in there and you'll see about 6 or 8 machine screws that hold the block of wood in place that's causing the stoppage.  Unfortunately you'll need to keep that piece from the player mechanism and replace it after you put the action back in, then reattach the lyre.

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    Gary Bruce, RPT
    Bruce Piano Service
    Edmond, OK
    405-413-TUNE
    www.brucepiano.com
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Steinway Puzzle- How to remove the action.....

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-11-2018 09:31
    I had one for a number of years, player removed, but smaller than yours. 1920, 6' including the extra length keys, so not sure what model that makes it.

    The action came out the usual way if you just lift it some, clearing whatever that was. Still a pain and very heavy.

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    Cindy Strehlow
    Urbana, IL
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    Original Message