Pianotech

I never replaced hitch pins but this week i came across two pianos (uprights) with hitch pin issues:
one where the hitch pin was bent to be at approx 4 o'clock position and the other one with hitch pins that were extremely corroded (from a water leak).

what is the proper procedure of removing the old hitch pins, preparing the plate for new pins and how to actually insert new pins and also, what should i use for new hitch pins?

thank you,

Peter

------------------------------
Petrus Janssen
Peachtree City GA
678-416-8055
------------------------------

Hi Petrus, what I'd use is an expansion pin like the type found on a Baldwin grand piano plate.  Drilling out the old one could be a critical process because you want that hole to be a clean interface between the expansion pin and the plate ..... so that you don't have possible buzzing or wobble affecting tone and tuning stability.

------------------------------
Larry Fisher
Owner, Chief Grunt, Head Hosehead
Vancouver WA
503-310-6965
Working the gravy zone for the rest of my days.
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-11-2020 07:57
From: Petrus Janssen
Subject: how to replace a hitch pin

I never replaced hitch pins but this week i came across two pianos (uprights) with hitch pin issues:
one where the hitch pin was bent to be at approx 4 o'clock position and the other one with hitch pins that were extremely corroded (from a water leak).

what is the proper procedure of removing the old hitch pins, preparing the plate for new pins and how to actually insert new pins and also, what should i use for new hitch pins?

thank you,

Peter

------------------------------
Petrus Janssen
Peachtree City GA
678-416-8055
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12/11/2020 8:57:00 AM
From: Larry Fisher
Subject: RE: how to replace a hitch pin

Hi Petrus, what I'd use is an expansion pin like the type found on a Baldwin grand piano plate.  Drilling out the old one could be a critical process because you want that hole to be a clean interface between the expansion pin and the plate ..... so that you don't have possible buzzing or wobble affecting tone and tuning stability.

------------------------------
Larry Fisher
Owner, Chief Grunt, Head Hosehead
Vancouver WA
503-310-6965
Working the gravy zone for the rest of my days.
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-11-2020 07:57
From: Petrus Janssen
Subject: how to replace a hitch pin

I never replaced hitch pins but this week i came across two pianos (uprights) with hitch pin issues:
one where the hitch pin was bent to be at approx 4 o'clock position and the other one with hitch pins that were extremely corroded (from a water leak).

what is the proper procedure of removing the old hitch pins, preparing the plate for new pins and how to actually insert new pins and also, what should i use for new hitch pins?

thank you,

Peter

------------------------------
Petrus Janssen
Peachtree City GA
678-416-8055
------------------------------

I replace hitch pins routinely when remanufacturing a piano. I use slotted spring roll pins (vertical hitch pins). They are easy to drill for and insert. I buy mine from McMaster-Carr in bulk, but I'd bet that ACE Hardware carries them also.

But why are you considering replacing the pins? Is the bent one presenting a problem? Did it break? Is the string slipping off? And the corroded one - it would have to corrode A LOT before it actually breaks. Why not just leave it - clean it up a bit if you like - and see how it does?

------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-11-2020 07:57
From: Petrus Janssen
Subject: how to replace a hitch pin

I never replaced hitch pins but this week i came across two pianos (uprights) with hitch pin issues:
one where the hitch pin was bent to be at approx 4 o'clock position and the other one with hitch pins that were extremely corroded (from a water leak).

what is the proper procedure of removing the old hitch pins, preparing the plate for new pins and how to actually insert new pins and also, what should i use for new hitch pins?

thank you,

Peter

------------------------------
Petrus Janssen
Peachtree City GA
678-416-8055
------------------------------

Hi Terry,
Thank you for your response. 
The one that's bent: I have not seen the piano in person. Someone just sent a picture and it seemed like 4 pins were replaced in the past. The one hitch pin that is bent may have to be replaced or maybe not, depending on the string being able to hold a tuning.
The other piano with the corroded bass hitch pins (the first 6), has more than just a lot corrosion of the hitch pins. The first two bass strings' hitch pin loops already broke from corrosion.
Peter

------------------------------
Petrus Janssen
Peachtree City GA
678-416-8055
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-12-2020 06:21
From: Terrence Farrell
Subject: how to replace a hitch pin

I replace hitch pins routinely when remanufacturing a piano. I use slotted spring roll pins (vertical hitch pins). They are easy to drill for and insert. I buy mine from McMaster-Carr in bulk, but I'd bet that ACE Hardware carries them also.

But why are you considering replacing the pins? Is the bent one presenting a problem? Did it break? Is the string slipping off? And the corroded one - it would have to corrode A LOT before it actually breaks. Why not just leave it - clean it up a bit if you like - and see how it does?

------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505

Original Message:
Sent: 12-11-2020 07:57
From: Petrus Janssen
Subject: how to replace a hitch pin

I never replaced hitch pins but this week i came across two pianos (uprights) with hitch pin issues:
one where the hitch pin was bent to be at approx 4 o'clock position and the other one with hitch pins that were extremely corroded (from a water leak).

what is the proper procedure of removing the old hitch pins, preparing the plate for new pins and how to actually insert new pins and also, what should i use for new hitch pins?

thank you,

Peter

------------------------------
Petrus Janssen
Peachtree City GA
678-416-8055
------------------------------

Terry,

Can you tell a little more about your method or replacing hitch pins during remanufacturing? What process for removing the old pins? I've heard of using a cold chisel. Also, do you use any kind of filler around the old hole/new pin for cosmetic reasons? What length and diameter of roll pin do you most commonly use? Thanks in advance for any information you can share.

Shane


------------------------------
Shane Lowther
Piano Technician
CSA Piano
Charleston, WV
304 444 2431
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-12-2020 06:21
From: Terrence Farrell
Subject: how to replace a hitch pin

I replace hitch pins routinely when remanufacturing a piano. I use slotted spring roll pins (vertical hitch pins). They are easy to drill for and insert. I buy mine from McMaster-Carr in bulk, but I'd bet that ACE Hardware carries them also.

But why are you considering replacing the pins? Is the bent one presenting a problem? Did it break? Is the string slipping off? And the corroded one - it would have to corrode A LOT before it actually breaks. Why not just leave it - clean it up a bit if you like - and see how it does?

------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505

Original Message:
Sent: 12-11-2020 07:57
From: Petrus Janssen
Subject: how to replace a hitch pin

I never replaced hitch pins but this week i came across two pianos (uprights) with hitch pin issues:
one where the hitch pin was bent to be at approx 4 o'clock position and the other one with hitch pins that were extremely corroded (from a water leak).

what is the proper procedure of removing the old hitch pins, preparing the plate for new pins and how to actually insert new pins and also, what should i use for new hitch pins?

thank you,

Peter

------------------------------
Petrus Janssen
Peachtree City GA
678-416-8055
------------------------------

Shane L. asked:  "Can you tell a little more about your method or replacing hitch pins during remanufacturing?"

Sure. Original hitch pins are removed with cold chisel - whack! Anything left above grade is ground down with grinder. Holes, grind marks, etc. filled with epoxy fairing filler and sanded smooth. I use 3/16", 7/32" and 1/4" by 1" long stainless steel roll pins from McMaster-Carr. Roll pin manufacturers publish specifications for recommended hole diameters.

Typically I try to drill the plate for the new pins aft of the originals. Also, drilling for new pins allows one to straight out and better space the non-speaking portion of the strings.

Here are a couple pictures......


------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-13-2020 10:43
From: J. Shane Lowther
Subject: how to replace a hitch pin

Terry,

Can you tell a little more about your method or replacing hitch pins during remanufacturing? What process for removing the old pins? I've heard of using a cold chisel. Also, do you use any kind of filler around the old hole/new pin for cosmetic reasons? What length and diameter of roll pin do you most commonly use? Thanks in advance for any information you can share.

Shane


------------------------------
Shane Lowther
Piano Technician
CSA Piano
Charleston, WV
304 444 2431

Original Message:
Sent: 12-12-2020 06:21
From: Terrence Farrell
Subject: how to replace a hitch pin

I replace hitch pins routinely when remanufacturing a piano. I use slotted spring roll pins (vertical hitch pins). They are easy to drill for and insert. I buy mine from McMaster-Carr in bulk, but I'd bet that ACE Hardware carries them also.

But why are you considering replacing the pins? Is the bent one presenting a problem? Did it break? Is the string slipping off? And the corroded one - it would have to corrode A LOT before it actually breaks. Why not just leave it - clean it up a bit if you like - and see how it does?

------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505

Original Message:
Sent: 12-11-2020 07:57
From: Petrus Janssen
Subject: how to replace a hitch pin

I never replaced hitch pins but this week i came across two pianos (uprights) with hitch pin issues:
one where the hitch pin was bent to be at approx 4 o'clock position and the other one with hitch pins that were extremely corroded (from a water leak).

what is the proper procedure of removing the old hitch pins, preparing the plate for new pins and how to actually insert new pins and also, what should i use for new hitch pins?

thank you,

Peter

------------------------------
Petrus Janssen
Peachtree City GA
678-416-8055
------------------------------

Terry,

Thanks for sharing. Very nice work.

------------------------------
Shane Lowther
Piano Technician
CSA Piano
Charleston, WV
304 444 2431
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-14-2020 06:01
From: Terrence Farrell
Subject: how to replace a hitch pin

Shane L. asked:  "Can you tell a little more about your method or replacing hitch pins during remanufacturing?"

Sure. Original hitch pins are removed with cold chisel - whack! Anything left above grade is ground down with grinder. Holes, grind marks, etc. filled with epoxy fairing filler and sanded smooth. I use 3/16", 7/32" and 1/4" by 1" long stainless steel roll pins from McMaster-Carr. Roll pin manufacturers publish specifications for recommended hole diameters.

Typically I try to drill the plate for the new pins aft of the originals. Also, drilling for new pins allows one to straight out and better space the non-speaking portion of the strings.

Here are a couple pictures......

Picture below shows two sizes of roll pins. I select pin diameter based on which size will keep the strings most parallel to one another. If I recall correctly, the picture below shows a pin installed underneath the strut that I drilled from the back side of the plate. I really don't recall, but I may have installed the pin from the back side also.

Glamor shot below.....

------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505

Original Message:
Sent: 12-13-2020 10:43
From: J. Shane Lowther
Subject: how to replace a hitch pin

Terry,

Can you tell a little more about your method or replacing hitch pins during remanufacturing? What process for removing the old pins? I've heard of using a cold chisel. Also, do you use any kind of filler around the old hole/new pin for cosmetic reasons? What length and diameter of roll pin do you most commonly use? Thanks in advance for any information you can share.

Shane


------------------------------
Shane Lowther
Piano Technician
CSA Piano
Charleston, WV
304 444 2431

Original Message:
Sent: 12-12-2020 06:21
From: Terrence Farrell
Subject: how to replace a hitch pin

I replace hitch pins routinely when remanufacturing a piano. I use slotted spring roll pins (vertical hitch pins). They are easy to drill for and insert. I buy mine from McMaster-Carr in bulk, but I'd bet that ACE Hardware carries them also.

But why are you considering replacing the pins? Is the bent one presenting a problem? Did it break? Is the string slipping off? And the corroded one - it would have to corrode A LOT before it actually breaks. Why not just leave it - clean it up a bit if you like - and see how it does?

------------------------------
Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505

Original Message:
Sent: 12-11-2020 07:57
From: Petrus Janssen
Subject: how to replace a hitch pin

I never replaced hitch pins but this week i came across two pianos (uprights) with hitch pin issues:
one where the hitch pin was bent to be at approx 4 o'clock position and the other one with hitch pins that were extremely corroded (from a water leak).

what is the proper procedure of removing the old hitch pins, preparing the plate for new pins and how to actually insert new pins and also, what should i use for new hitch pins?

thank you,

Peter

------------------------------
Petrus Janssen
Peachtree City GA
678-416-8055
------------------------------