Pianotech

  • 1.  Ritmuller keyslip

    Posted 06-10-2021 15:49
    Note: this may be a duplicate message

    Greetings, I have a client with Ritmuller upright with keys sticking because of the keyslip. I cannot figure out how to remove the keyslip so it can be shimmed. I almost seems to be glued in. I'm not at the piano now but i'm wondering if there might be a bolt in the keyframe that can be adjusted to push out the keyslip a bit. 

    Thanks ahead of time for any suggestions. 



    ------------------------------
    Randy Prentice
    Tucson AZ
    520-749-3788
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Ritmuller keyslip

    Posted 06-10-2021 16:01
    Some uprights have keyslip machine screwed through a tubular aluminum frame: either under keybed with screw heads facing strings or from inside keyframe and only visible when keys are removed.
    At times the keyslip is attached to cheekblocks and upstop rail as a single unit.





  • 3.  RE: Ritmuller keyslip

    Posted 06-10-2021 16:30
    Hi, Randy,

    You might contact Dan Skelley, owner of Skelley Piano in University Place, WA. Dan is a Ritmuller dealer; and a highly skilled technician.

    Skelleypiano.com

    I'm sure that he would be glad to help you.

    Kind regards.

    Horace Greeley





      Original Message




  • 4.  RE: Ritmuller keyslip

    Posted 06-10-2021 20:37
    Thanks for your reply Horace,

    According to Mark Wisner at Ritmuller USA the keyslip is in fact glued in. The solution is to install (wedge in) a shim between the keyframe and keyslip thereby bowing the keyslip slightly. All I need is about 1/32 of an inch, tops. There is about a 1/4 inch gap between the keyslip and keyframe. So I'm brain storming possible items the could be used as a wedge. My first choice is a short thin dowel laid horizontally and hammered in. I'm also thinking a tuning pin might work. Will know more when I revisit the piano tomorrow. This particular piano design is rather disappointing. Why? I ask, Why?       


    ------------------------------
    Randy Prentice
    Tucson AZ
    520-749-3788
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Ritmuller keyslip

    Member
    Posted 06-10-2021 21:18

    a few pictures may be helpful to post. i would be very careful about hammering something in the size of a dowel or tuning pin and I would try doing it at the ends of the slip near the keyblocks. Too thick a material may end cracking the key slip.there are some clear shims used to level table legs and appliances that have a taper to them. you may only need a half inch to an inch of shim to bow out the keyslip. I used some small pieces of aluminum strip that was very thin and flexible folded over itself . It was a perfect solution on a Kawai that had key fronts hanging up. I got the material at Lowes Home Improvement in the nuts/bolts/hardware section. It was in a cabinet with long vertical drawers that had specialty hardware. the drawer was labelled craft parts, hobby parts, science fair parts

    ------------------------------
    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Ritmuller keyslip

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-10-2021 22:00
    Why? Right now I'm wondering how, if the keyslip is glued in, is it warping? Just glued to the end-blocks? Does the bottom of the keyslip rest on the keybed or does it butt up against the front of the bed? If it butts up against the keybed, maybe you could shim it from underneath.

    You might want to bring some slips of wood around the thickness of that 1/4" gap and then fine tune with front rail punchings or an ivory tail. As the keyframe and slip aren't going anywhere it should be more or less permanent even without glue. 

    Perhaps the keyslip isn't the culprit. If it's glued in place then it is a constant that other parts adjust in relation to. Is it binding in the middle or to one side or the other? How many notes bind? I'd verify that it's bowed at least by line of sight first or measure it against the keyframe and balance rail as well. 

    Or you could loosen all the screws holding down the keyframe and nudge it back 1/32nd". Or just the balance rail. Baldwin has a trick balance rail for adjusting key height, maybe this one can adjust fore and aft. 1/32" isn't much.


    ------------------------------
    Steven Rosenthal
    Honolulu HI
    808-521-7129
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Ritmuller keyslip

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-10-2021 21:41
    When I ran into this I got a 1/4" bolt and nut 1/2" long. Chiseled out a space where the sticking was worst. Put the nut on the bolt and gradually backed it off until there was clearance.

    ------------------------------
    Larry Messerly, RPT
    Bringing Harmony to Homes
    www.lacrossepianotuning.com
    ljmesserly@gmail.com
    928-899-7292
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Ritmuller keyslip

    Posted 06-11-2021 18:01
    Thanks for all the suggestions....all of which would work. Here's what I finally did. Flexing the keyslip enough to insert the shim was next to impossible...at least without a crowbar. Instead, I used a narrow tuning pin punch to drive in a nylon spacer shim.  I inserted a shim about a third of the way in from both ends of the keyboard.

    Thanks again for all the responses..
    Nylon Shim



    ------------------------------
    Randy Prentice
    Tucson AZ
    520-749-3788
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Ritmuller keyslip

    Posted 06-10-2021 21:30
    Hello Randy,
    Last week, I serviced an off brand piano and there were two captains at 1/3 and 2/3 positioned in the key frame to keep the keyslip from bending inwards. 
    Not sure how to remove the key slip though...
    Peter

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