Pianotech

  • 1.  Chickering Wippen Flange problem...

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-10-2018 09:55
    Replacing some brass <g class="gr_ gr_10 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="10" data-gr-id="10">wippen</g> flanges on a large Chickering grand till has the original <g class="gr_ gr_41 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling" id="41" data-gr-id="41">wippens</g>.  Ordered about a dozen from Schaff and they look spot on.  Went to install a few and none of them fit properly.  The center pins that are currently in the <g class="gr_ gr_501 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="501" data-gr-id="501">wippen</g> are slightly too large to fit in the tongue slot, and it seems as though the tongue is slightly too wide to fit comfortably between the <g class="gr_ gr_714 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="714" data-gr-id="714">wippen</g> 'ears.'  I attempted to tighten the screw on the plate <g class="gr_ gr_851 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="851" data-gr-id="851">anyways</g> and screw back onto the action.  The <g class="gr_ gr_1178 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="1178" data-gr-id="1178">wippen</g> location is close, but off enough to cause some slight repetition issues.

    Should I...
    -Replace the flange/<g class="gr_ gr_1385 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="1385" data-gr-id="1385">wippen</g> bushing and install a smaller center pin so that it fits into that tongue slot?
    -Adjust the regulation even though the geometry will be slightly off?
    -Shape the edges of the tongue so it fits between the 'ears' easier?
    -Something else?

    I figured somebody must've dealt with this at some point.  Any advice would be appreciated.

    ------------------------------
    Evan Bingham
    Westerville OH
    740-513-7288
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Chickering Wippen Flange problem...

    Posted 10-10-2018 12:25
    Definitely make the tongue more narrow. Since they are a little off, swap out with ones from the ends. That way the geometry problem will be on rarely played notes. Can you make the slot in the tongue deeper to accept the pin?

    ------------------------------
    Regards,

    Jon Page
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Chickering Wippen Flange problem...

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-10-2018 14:50
    Thank you Jon

    I filed the sides off of the tongue as you suggested and that ended up working nicely.  Nice enough so that I didn't have to worry about the center pin being slightly too large because it ended up fitting snug.

    I also put them on some <g class="gr_ gr_272 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="272" data-gr-id="272">end notes</g> as you suggested.  The regulation that had to be adjusted to compensate was just the <g class="gr_ gr_319 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="319" data-gr-id="319">letoff</g> and blow distance.  Works fine enough now and thanks again for the advice.

    Evan

    ------------------------------
    Evan Bingham
    Westerville OH
    740-513-7288
    ------------------------------