Pianotech

  • 1.  Kranich & Bach Action Problem

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-17-2019 10:36
    I have been contacted by a local tech who is not a PTG member asking for help with a Kranich & Bach grand action. He removed it from the piano and is unable to get it back in. He sent me some pictures that are somewhat helpful. I have attached three of them. It would appear that instead of an una corda, the hammers are lifted toward the strings upright style and there is a mechanism for taking up the lost motion by raising the whippens. I have heard of this but have never seen one. I have made an appointment to meet him at the customer's house on Tuesday, but first I'm  hoping someone reading this may have already encountered one of these and has some advice.  Other than scrapping it, of course. Thanks very much.

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    Craig Miller
    Marietta GA
    770-321-9390
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  • 2.  RE: Kranich & Bach Action Problem

    Posted 02-17-2019 11:32
    I have a couple of the KB spring and loop actions here. Sometimes I have to move the left pedal a bit to fit the mechanism back in.

    There is no description of what the problem is in returning the action to the cavity. Is it the hammers blocking?

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    Dan Silverwood
    www.silverwoodpianos.com
    http://silverwoodpianos.blogspot.com/
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  • 3.  RE: Kranich & Bach Action Problem

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-17-2019 13:02
    I was told that it went in almost all the way and stopped with an inch or so to go. He could not figure out what the obstruction was.

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    Craig Miller
    Marietta GA
    770-321-9390
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  • 4.  RE: Kranich & Bach Action Problem

    Posted 02-17-2019 13:20
    I recall the same problem and having  to manipulate one or both of the pedals. Could have been the damper bar inside blocking for the final inch.

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    Dan Silverwood
    www.silverwoodpianos.com
    http://silverwoodpianos.blogspot.com/
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  • 5.  RE: Kranich & Bach Action Problem

    Posted 02-17-2019 13:23
    Here's an interesting K&B action I had to work on once.



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    Troubles are Bubbles, and they just float away.
    chernobieffpiano.com
    grandpianoman@protonmail.com
    Knoxville, TN
    865-986-7720
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  • 6.  RE: Kranich & Bach Action Problem

    Posted 02-17-2019 13:32
    Rogers had a similar design that I came across.

    From memory one has to lift the front of the action a little so that the back goes under a relevant part and it's really awkward. In a small grand with overstrung strings at quite an angle it's easy for a hammer to hit something on the break whilst introducing the action and sliding it in and I broke a hammer at the joint with the shank. Luckily it glued adequately back together but it was potentially awkward. It's a horrible design.

    Best wishes

    David P

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    +44 1342 850594





  • 7.  RE: Kranich & Bach Action Problem

    Posted 02-17-2019 13:44
    Chris,
    Both of the ones here are the identical configuration with the action frame connected under the key set.

    David,
    I think that is what I did to get the thing to move, had to manipulate it around a bit.

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    Dan Silverwood
    www.silverwoodpianos.com
    http://silverwoodpianos.blogspot.com/
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  • 8.  RE: Kranich & Bach Action Problem

    Member
    Posted 02-17-2019 14:39
    get a good light in the action cavity and check around for screws coming through the keybed from below. it does not take much to snag an action frame. ask me how i know. sometimes you can get them out but its impossible to get them in. whiled the action is out try the pedals to see what and where things move. sometimes you have to lift the action in the front so it can fit in action stops in back . take more pictures in the cavity we might spot something. the action looks like quite a kluge. what year was that piano ?  i have a bush and lane semi concert grand that has a number of things in it i have never seen. hammers sit on a rail like in an upright- no u/c

     the picture that chris posted of the metal action frame was quite unique. at least a frame like that will not warp

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    James Kelly
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
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  • 9.  RE: Kranich & Bach Action Problem

    Posted 02-17-2019 14:16
    Tip the wippen rail so that the curved, metal lever is touching the hammer lift rail prior to installing.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@pianocapecod.com
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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  • 10.  RE: Kranich & Bach Action Problem

    Posted 02-17-2019 20:07
    I'm in agreement with Jon on this one.  One of our guys had a Kranich & Bach two weeks ago with a similar problem.  She sent me pics quite similar.  In our particular instance, it's what Jon says.

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    Ted Rohde
    Central Illinois
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