Jeremy
The best way to evaluate what's wrong with the key not working is to look at a key that is working, and figure out what's different. If it is indeed the jack not hitting the hammer butt, then you will need to figure out why. In a lot of older uprights, the jack is attached to the wippen with a flange. The flange is attached to the wippen with glue. Over time, the glue joint fails, and the flange will detach from the wippen.
The easiest way to reglue the jack is to take the action out of the piano, remove the wippen and glue the flange back on. I've had some success by putting a drop of glue on a small screwdriver where the flange goes, and then using needle nose pliers, carefully put the jack flange back in place. But sometime this takes longer than the above procedure. And if there are 6 loose jacks, it will be much faster and easier to remove the action.
BTW the other reason the hammer is not hitting the string when you push on a key is that the key is broken in half. The symptom of a broken key is when you push on the key, the wippen doesn't move, or barely moves.
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Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
Mililani, HI 96789
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-09-2017 11:09
From: Jeremy Woodall
Subject: Hammer not striking
*Young piano tech* I've been tuning piano for a couple years. Not a lot of repair experience. I came across a piano with several (six) keys that when you strike them, the hammer doesn't hit the string. It moves a little, but no response to hit the string. I'm looking for a checklist, or a how-to, or some support in how to figure out what's wrong? I think it's something to do with the Jack (if Jack ain't happy, ain't no one happy), but not sure how to evaluate to see what the issue is, and, more importantly, how to repair the issue to have happy customers. Much appreciated any suggestions or support!
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Jeremy Woodall
Everything Piano
Stayton, Ore.
971 599 1973
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