Pianotech

  • 1.  1990s Kohler & Cambpell Whippen Replacement

    Posted 12-09-2015 17:52

    Dear Technicians,

    I am looking to order one of these exact replacements (see picture) Its from a mid 1990s 5'8" kohler and cambpell grand. I looked on Schaff, and they dont appear to carry this model, with the little spring/rope flange. Do you know where to get one? 

    Also.. the A4 in the middle went out, for some reason the jack got warped and therefore stuck, and the key woundt work. So i asked the customer if I could take the Highest 'C' whippen and put in place of the A, in the mean time, while her parts are being ordered. When doing the swap, i noticed a large different in the touch/ repetition spring weight. Bending rep springs is not something I do yet. Any ideas?

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    Leif Mathisen
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  • 2.  RE: 1990s Kohler & Cambpell Whippen Replacement

    Posted 12-09-2015 18:23

    Are you saying the jack is rubbing against the side of the window in the wippen?

    If so, consult your references to learn how to correct a misaligned jack.

    Perhaps you need to take the PTG academy class, or find a teacher.

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    Ed Sutton
    ed440@me.com
    704-536-7926

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: 1990s Kohler & Cambpell Whippen Replacement

    Posted 12-10-2015 02:50

    Yes the jack is rubbing on the window. 

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    Leif Mathisen

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: 1990s Kohler & Cambpell Whippen Replacement

    Posted 12-10-2015 03:57

    I find that comment an insult to my technicianship and all the education I have received, from steinway technicians, master rebuilders, and piano designers and engineers. 

    I have put many hard hours toiling inside peoples homes, fixing their pianos. Spending hours squinting inside actions making adjustments and lubrication, which I highly value over repinning. I have learned center pin service from derrel fandrich, who's world reknown, and a trade secret he uses to over come stiff sluggish center pins, which I just used today on a 1970s Baldwin upright with the notorious and horribly slow center pins. (Found in baldwin and hamilton studio uprights) The end result was a lightning fast action which could play faster than you could. My success rate is very high. 

    I am where I am, working as a full time piano technician six to seven days a week, thanks to other helpful people and techs, and most importantly my mind is set towards being a skilled professional and not a student. My mind is set to being a professional who is simply adding more information, skill and knowledge to the storehouse. 

    Thank you. 

     

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    Leif Mathisen

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: 1990s Kohler & Cambpell Whippen Replacement

    Posted 12-10-2015 04:11

    I believe the problem here is the wood is warped in multiple locations. I did thouroghly inspect the center pins, and tweaked the tower, but in this case i believe a new whippen is much more cost effective over trying reglue a new tower, rebuild the whippen, add new parts ect. This particular whippen is a dud. It's semi slit as you can see.

    The customers home was also between 85 and 90 degrees (its winter, and they're an old couple), which I also believe added to the wood warping on this piano. Because I have tuned this piano for this customer at least 3 times over the last couple years and it never had this problem before.

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    Leif Mathisen

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: 1990s Kohler & Cambpell Whippen Replacement

    Posted 12-10-2015 05:00

    I believe the problem here is the wood is warped in multiple locations. I did thouroghly inspect the center pins, and tweaked the tower, but in this case i believe a new whippen is much more cost effective over trying reglue a new tower, rebuild the whippen, add new parts ect. This particular whippen is a dud. It's semi slit as you can see.

    The customers home was also between 85 and 90 degrees (its winter, and they're an old couple), which I also believe added to the wood warping on this piano. Because I have tuned this piano for this customer at least 3 times over the last couple years and it never had this problem before.

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    Leif Mathisen

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: 1990s Kohler & Cambpell Whippen Replacement

    Posted 12-10-2015 07:59

    From your description it sounds as though the jack centerpin is bent, which causes the jack to rub against one side of the rep lever.  This is easy to remedy by repinning.  If the centerpin hole in the jack was drilled off-axis, you'll need to bend the pin appropriately to center the jack in the window; the technique for this process can be found on p.156 of Mario Igrec's Pianos Inside And Out.

    If you're assessing the diffierence in touch weight between those two wippens at the front of the key, there could be other explanations than rep spring strength (though that is a possibility).  Be sure to check the flange pinning of the wippen, jack, and rep spring.

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    Kent Burnside, RPT
    Franklin TN
    615.430.0653

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: 1990s Kohler & Cambpell Whippen Replacement

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-10-2015 10:13

    Hi Leif, as I recall there's an area of the whippens that don't have those whip flange assist springs.  If so, take one from right next to where the springed ones start and replace it with the "build your own" type that Schaff sells on page 110.  It would be a non-assisted one replacing an assisted one but I doubt anyone would notice.

    Option number two, choose a suitable match from the ones shown and modifiy it to match.  (grind off the hammer cushion with a Dremel)

    Option three, purchase a minimum order of them from K&C (Samick).

    Option four, maybe someone on the forum has a suitable replacement you could purchase.

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    Larry Fisher
    Owner, Chief Grunt, Head Hosehead
    Vancouver WA
    360-256-2999

    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: 1990s Kohler & Cambpell Whippen Replacement

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-10-2015 10:16

    option five, replace just the offending/warped part.  Jacks are available individually if that's the bad part.  If it's the tower, you might be able to get a way with rebushing, and then repinning.

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    Larry Fisher
    Owner, Chief Grunt, Head Hosehead
    Vancouver WA
    360-256-2999

    Original Message