As much as I have abandoned the imperial system of weights and measures for the metric in my work, I still find some things easier to remember in inches, such as the minimum length of a hammer tail: 1 inch. An easy way to judge with a glance: with the hammer shank at horizontal, the end of the tail should be level with the top of the backchecks.
Rebushing and pinning a set of flanges is not all that onerous a chore, but it would cost more in labor than the price of a new set, and since you'll have to hang a new set of hammers anyway, you may as well replace those too. And don't forget with the new parts you'll have to do a full regulation and weigh it off. I really don't think there is a inexpensive option here.
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Cecil Snyder
Torrance CA
310-542-7108
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-13-2018 23:46
From: Benjamin Sanchez
Subject: Kimball Grand Hammer Tails and Hammer Flange Bushings
Hi James,
You might consider adding binder clips to the shanks? That you make the action heavier, and the effect might be what you're looking for. Then again, maybe not. It certainly wouldn't fix the problem; but depending on just how much the budget is limited, it might give a masking effect. Maybe not, don't know for certain, as I haven't tried it yet. Who knows? It may or may not work. Why not have some fun and try an experiment?
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Benjamin Sanchez
Professional Piano Services
(805)315-8050
www.professional-piano-services.com
BenPianoPro@comcast.net
Original Message:
Sent: 04-13-2018 20:03
From: Jon Page
Subject: Kimball Grand Hammer Tails and Hammer Flange Bushings
I prefer a tail length of 27 mm.
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Regards,
Jon Page
Original Message:
Sent: 04-13-2018 19:29
From: James Kelly
Subject: Kimball Grand Hammer Tails and Hammer Flange Bushings
I am trying to make a Kimball Grand play better for a new theater that opened here but at the moment the budget is limited. A number of hammer flanges had center pin walkout but after repinning there is still too much play in the bushings with very little friction. I think the better/best solution is to get all new hammer shanks, flanges, knuckles and hammer felt made from samples rather than take on the expensive and laborious task of repinning. On top of the loose pinning there is hardly any tail on the hammers and what is there are vertical cuts to assist checking which is erratic. Is there a way to swell the bushings such as using VS felt treatment and buy some time ?
How do you determine how much tail a hammer should have ? I think there are some articles on tail shaping on the journal reprints CD that I can not locate at the moment. I thought the tails on some S&S pianos I have seen where short until I saw the small nubs on these.
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James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
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