Hi Geoff:
You might check to see if the hammer shank is hitting the balancier screw which regulates jack height in the window. I've seen that before. If the hammer rest rail allows the hammer shank to go below a certain point, it may hit the screw and make a click. Hammer bouncing is normal. But that's what the hammer rest rail or cushion is supposed to do, to make sure the shank doesn't go too far down.
Another click sound is a backcheck hitting the sostenuto rail blade, but that may not be relevant here.
Do you get a clack if the action is outside the piano? You'll of course have to shim up the action to recreate the dip.
Pics would help.
And, of course, if the tree falls in the forest and nobody hears.. sleeping dogs come to mind. If you point out the problem, it may lead to angst if you can't fix it. But I sympathize. I can't stand it when there's an obvious problem that I"m unable to fix.
Paul McCloud
San D Eggo
Geoff Sykes:
Klacking as opposed to Quacking or Squawking.
Lovely 2001 Estonia L baby grand. With the exception that whenever a key is released everything in that key bounces and goes klackety-klack. I did some very minor regulation and voicing on it about eight years ago and it continues to perform and sound well. Except for the klackety-klack. Customer has not mentioned it so neither have I, but I want to know more about what is happening because I, personally, am annoyed that it is happening.
Regulation is good
All screws are tight
Hammer flanges give between three and five swings
Wippen springs are set just about perfect
Key bushings are acceptable
Key height, dip are correct
Yet, every time a key is released the hammer drops and bounces several times causing the action to sound klackety.
In the process of testing different things I notice that even though the knuckle has been Teflon lubed and is really nice and soft, still, when the knuckle falls onto the top of the wippen/jack it produces a klack. When the key falls to the bottom it produces a klack. The only thing I noticed that may be a contributing factor is the fact that the back of the key does not actually rest on the key rest felt. It floats just slightly above it which, I'm sure, is the cause of the bounce and quite probably the klack since nothing actually has a defined rest spot.
How can I get the keys to actually rest on the rest rail without having to do a complete start from scratch regulation? Or am I just stuck with that?
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Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
Original Message------
Klacking as opposed to Quacking or Squawking.
Lovely 2001 Estonia L baby grand. With the exception that whenever a key is released everything in that key bounces and goes klackety-klack. I did some very minor regulation and voicing on it about eight years ago and it continues to perform and sound well. Except for the klackety-klack. Customer has not mentioned it so neither have I, but I want to know more about what is happening because I, personally, am annoyed that it is happening.
Regulation is good
All screws are tight
Hammer flanges give between three and five swings
Wippen springs are set just about perfect
Key bushings are acceptable
Key height, dip are correct
Yet, every time a key is released the hammer drops and bounces several times causing the action to sound klackety.
In the process of testing different things I notice that even though the knuckle has been Teflon lubed and is really nice and soft, still, when the knuckle falls onto the top of the wippen/jack it produces a klack. When the key falls to the bottom it produces a klack. The only thing I noticed that may be a contributing factor is the fact that the back of the key does not actually rest on the key rest felt. It floats just slightly above it which, I'm sure, is the cause of the bounce and quite probably the klack since nothing actually has a defined rest spot.
How can I get the keys to actually rest on the rest rail without having to do a complete start from scratch regulation? Or am I just stuck with that?
------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
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