I think you need to look at the overall regulation situation and make sure there is some lost motion in the key so the jack can clear the hammer butt. New rest rail cloth could solve lots of problems however then you will need to re-regulate for blow, letoff, backchecking, lost motion, etc. One way to test for weak springs is to tug a little on the springs to stretch them and see what difference it makes. Make sure the keys are not too tight on the key pins and ease as needed. I recently worked on a Kimball consolette made in the late 1950's that had several keys with the same issue. Adjusting lost motion, letoff, easing the balance key pin hole, cleaning and polishing the keypins and adjusting backchecks solved the issues. I did not do any lubrication , stretching springs or repinning. I used a jig that was about 10" long and 5/8" thick , wedged the hammer rest rail so the hammers where 1/8" from the strings- the result was a fast and consistent letoff of 1/8" when it had been all over the map.
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James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-21-2020 13:27
From: Jurgen Goering
Subject: Sluggish Upright Jacks
Seeing that the piano is in an out of the way location, on an island involving time and expenses to get there, you cannot afford a call-back.
Lubricants can get you out the door but are often not a permanent fix.
Truly, the only fix that is guaranteed on sluggish jacks is re-pinning.
As others have mentioned, other factors could be involved - lost motion, sluggish keys, weak jack springs etc
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Jurgen Goering
Original Message:
Sent: 10-20-2020 00:32
From: Paul Brown
Subject: Sluggish Upright Jacks
Hi Petrus,
I warn them before using it. I've only had one complaint that I can think of.
Paul.
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Paul Brown, RPT
Past President
Piano Technicians Guild
Vancouver, BC Canada
Email: ipp@ptg.org
Original Message:
Sent: 10-19-2020 17:12
From: Petrus Janssen
Subject: Sluggish Upright Jacks
Hello Paul,
have you ever gotten any complaint about the smell of the Ballistol?
Peter
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Petrus Janssen
Peachtree City GA
678-416-8055
Original Message:
Sent: 10-18-2020 02:51
From: Paul Brown
Subject: Sluggish Upright Jacks
Hi David,
For most cases (not plastic flanges or verdigris infected actions), I use Ballistol (with a syringe) and work the solution into the center pin with a hairdryer (not too hot), and rapidly move the flange with my hand to work in the lubricant.
I would test this by removing the one flange and see how well it works. If it works then you should probably apply the solution to all the jack flange center pins (outside the piano so as to not heat up the strings) and rapidly move the JACKS (correction) with your hand. There is never just one sticking note.
In the video, I notice that the player is not properly repeating the note. The note is being played as if it is on a grand piano. The fingers should be lifted higher to allow the jack to fully return in this upright. HOWEVER, I see that the jack is lifting more vertically, indicating that the flange is indeed sluggish.
Paul.
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Paul Brown, RPT
Past President
Piano Technicians Guild
Vancouver, BC Canada
Email: ipp@ptg.org
Original Message:
Sent: 10-18-2020 01:34
From: Nancy Salmon
Subject: Sluggish Upright Jacks
You might also check that the rest rail hasn't settled to the extent of no lost motion. It may be just compacted felt where the rest rail sits on the action frame. Uprights need a little lost motion.
May also involve key height, or blow adjustments.
This occurred to me because the jack sounded and looked like it moved freely- just blocked against the butt.
Nancy Salmon, RPT
Original Message:
Sent: 10/17/2020 2:22:00 PM
From: David Trasoff
Subject: Sluggish Upright Jacks
Dear Colleagues,
I'll be going to see a 1925 Craig upright, made in Montreal. Quite a well-made piano judging by the photos I've been sent, and in quite good condition (although I haven't seen it yet) but it looks to have a widespread problem with sluggish jacks not resetting after a few blows. The owner has sent me a pretty nice video, which I've attached. I should mention that the piano lives on an island in the Salish Sea, so there's that.
What system-wide remedy do you think might be most effective? CPL? CBL? Vodka (50/50)? Pure alcohol? Plus heat? I will repin the worst if treating the jack center pins is not fully effective, but repinning every jack is not something on the table right now. And since I have to take a ferry to see the piano I want to be as prepared as possible.
Your collective experience will be most appreciated.
David Trasoff
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David Trasoff
Whatcom Piano Service
(360) 389-2158
david@whatcompianoservice.com
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