Pianotech

Hi all, 

This week I installed a new set of Renner hammer, shanks, and flanges on a M&H BB action. I went back today to put in the action, and couldn't get it in because the drop screws are too high. I had to turn down the drop screws in order to get it in the action cavity. Once it was in, I was able to reset the glide bolts, which helped quite a bit (they were protruding about a 1/4" more than they should have been). I was then able to raise drop back up a little, but I still couldn't get those screws as high as I wanted. It's not bad, but not great either. Probably about 1/8" below what it should be. 

Is there a way to get drop any higher? I really don't want to sand the bottom of the pin block on this piano, as the finish is in good condition and I'd hate to accidentally mess it up. I thought about sanding the bottom of the action down a little, but I'm afraid too much would change and then I'd have to re-regulate everything. I'm not sure it's possible to grind down the tops of the drop screws, or if I'd want to. 

I'm going back in a few months to do the next tuning and some follow up voicing, so this isn't anything urgent, but any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

P.S. Both the clients absolutely loved the touch and tone of their piano afterwards. I'm not so concerned with that front as just wanting to make it better than it is now.

Hi all, 

This week I installed a new set of Renner hammer, shanks, and flanges on a M&H BB action. I went back today to put in the action, and couldn't get it in because the drop screws are too high. I had to turn down the drop screws in order to get it in the action cavity. Once it was in, I was able to reset the glide bolts, which helped quite a bit (they were protruding about a 1/4" more than they should have been). I was then able to raise drop back up a little, but I still couldn't get those screws as high as I wanted. It's not bad, but not great either. Probably about 1/8" below what it should be. 

Is there a way to get drop any higher? I really don't want to sand the bottom of the pin block on this piano, as the finish is in good condition and I'd hate to accidentally mess it up. I thought about sanding the bottom of the action down a little, but I'm afraid too much would change and then I'd have to re-regulate everything. I'm not sure it's possible to grind down the tops of the drop screws, or if I'd want to. 

I'm going back in a few months to do the next tuning and some follow up voicing, so this isn't anything urgent, but any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

P.S. Both the clients absolutely loved the touch and tone of their piano afterwards. I'm not so concerned with that front as just wanting to make it better than it is now.

Hi all, 

This week I installed a new set of Renner hammer, shanks, and flanges on a M&H BB action. I went back today to put in the action, and couldn't get it in because the drop screws are too high. I had to turn down the drop screws in order to get it in the action cavity. Once it was in, I was able to reset the glide bolts, which helped quite a bit (they were protruding about a 1/4" more than they should have been). I was then able to raise drop back up a little, but I still couldn't get those screws as high as I wanted. It's not bad, but not great either. Probably about 1/8" below what it should be. 

Is there a way to get drop any higher? I really don't want to sand the bottom of the pin block on this piano, as the finish is in good condition and I'd hate to accidentally mess it up. I thought about sanding the bottom of the action down a little, but I'm afraid too much would change and then I'd have to re-regulate everything. I'm not sure it's possible to grind down the tops of the drop screws, or if I'd want to. 

I'm going back in a few months to do the next tuning and some follow up voicing, so this isn't anything urgent, but any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

P.S. Both the clients absolutely loved the touch and tone of their piano afterwards. I'm not so concerned with that front as just wanting to make it better than it is now.

The piano is from 1977. I'm 95% certain the flanges are the same thickness as the ones that came out of the piano. That's not to say what came out was the same dimensions as the originals. The piano was "rebuilt" by someone who didn't know what they were doing, and the action parts they used were… interesting. Lots of errors and inconsistencies in rake, angle, bore distance, shank length, etc. just in the S&F alone. It's been an interesting partial redesign back to factory specs, which, not surprisingly, work so much better than what was there before. 

On an aside note, the action ratio is a 1:6. I was a little concerned, but touchweight is spot on and the touch feels perfect, other than dropping just slightly more than I'd want. 

Hi all, 

This week I installed a new set of Renner hammer, shanks, and flanges on a M&H BB action. I went back today to put in the action, and couldn't get it in because the drop screws are too high. I had to turn down the drop screws in order to get it in the action cavity. Once it was in, I was able to reset the glide bolts, which helped quite a bit (they were protruding about a 1/4" more than they should have been). I was then able to raise drop back up a little, but I still couldn't get those screws as high as I wanted. It's not bad, but not great either. Probably about 1/8" below what it should be. 

Is there a way to get drop any higher? I really don't want to sand the bottom of the pin block on this piano, as the finish is in good condition and I'd hate to accidentally mess it up. I thought about sanding the bottom of the action down a little, but I'm afraid too much would change and then I'd have to re-regulate everything. I'm not sure it's possible to grind down the tops of the drop screws, or if I'd want to. 

I'm going back in a few months to do the next tuning and some follow up voicing, so this isn't anything urgent, but any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

P.S. Both the clients absolutely loved the touch and tone of their piano afterwards. I'm not so concerned with that front as just wanting to make it better than it is now.

Double check that you bored the hammers correctly. String height - hammer flange height = bore distance. If you bored them too short you'll be raising the drop screws. 

The piano is from 1977. I'm 95% certain the flanges are the same thickness as the ones that came out of the piano. That's not to say what came out was the same dimensions as the originals. The piano was "rebuilt" by someone who didn't know what they were doing, and the action parts they used were… interesting. Lots of errors and inconsistencies in rake, angle, bore distance, shank length, etc. just in the S&F alone. It's been an interesting partial redesign back to factory specs, which, not surprisingly, work so much better than what was there before. 

On an aside note, the action ratio is a 1:6. I was a little concerned, but touchweight is spot on and the touch feels perfect, other than dropping just slightly more than I'd want. 

Hi all, 

This week I installed a new set of Renner hammer, shanks, and flanges on a M&H BB action. I went back today to put in the action, and couldn't get it in because the drop screws are too high. I had to turn down the drop screws in order to get it in the action cavity. Once it was in, I was able to reset the glide bolts, which helped quite a bit (they were protruding about a 1/4" more than they should have been). I was then able to raise drop back up a little, but I still couldn't get those screws as high as I wanted. It's not bad, but not great either. Probably about 1/8" below what it should be. 

Is there a way to get drop any higher? I really don't want to sand the bottom of the pin block on this piano, as the finish is in good condition and I'd hate to accidentally mess it up. I thought about sanding the bottom of the action down a little, but I'm afraid too much would change and then I'd have to re-regulate everything. I'm not sure it's possible to grind down the tops of the drop screws, or if I'd want to. 

I'm going back in a few months to do the next tuning and some follow up voicing, so this isn't anything urgent, but any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

P.S. Both the clients absolutely loved the touch and tone of their piano afterwards. I'm not so concerned with that front as just wanting to make it better than it is now.

Hi all, 

This week I installed a new set of Renner hammer, shanks, and flanges on a M&H BB action. I went back today to put in the action, and couldn't get it in because the drop screws are too high. I had to turn down the drop screws in order to get it in the action cavity. Once it was in, I was able to reset the glide bolts, which helped quite a bit (they were protruding about a 1/4" more than they should have been). I was then able to raise drop back up a little, but I still couldn't get those screws as high as I wanted. It's not bad, but not great either. Probably about 1/16”-1/8" below what it should be. 

Is there a way to get drop any higher? I really don't want to sand the bottom of the pin block on this piano, as the finish is in good condition and I'd hate to accidentally mess it up. I thought about sanding the bottom of the action down a little, but I'm afraid too much would change and then I'd have to re-regulate everything. I'm not sure it's possible to grind down the tops of the drop screws, or if I'd want to. 

I'm going back in a few months to do the next tuning and some follow up voicing, so this isn't anything urgent, but any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

P.S. Both the clients absolutely loved the touch and tone of their piano afterwards. I'm not so concerned with that front as just wanting to make it better than it is now.

------------------------------
Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
Piano Technician / Artisan
(256) 947-9999
www.professional-piano-services.com
------------------------------

Hi all, 

This week I installed a new set of Renner hammer, shanks, and flanges on a M&H BB action. I went back today to put in the action, and couldn't get it in because the drop screws are too high. I had to turn down the drop screws in order to get it in the action cavity. Once it was in, I was able to reset the glide bolts, which helped quite a bit (they were protruding about a 1/4" more than they should have been). I was then able to raise drop back up a little, but I still couldn't get those screws as high as I wanted. It's not bad, but not great either. Probably about 1/16”-1/8" below what it should be. 

Is there a way to get drop any higher? I really don't want to sand the bottom of the pin block on this piano, as the finish is in good condition and I'd hate to accidentally mess it up. I thought about sanding the bottom of the action down a little, but I'm afraid too much would change and then I'd have to re-regulate everything. I'm not sure it's possible to grind down the tops of the drop screws, or if I'd want to. 

I'm going back in a few months to do the next tuning and some follow up voicing, so this isn't anything urgent, but any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

P.S. Both the clients absolutely loved the touch and tone of their piano afterwards. I'm not so concerned with that front as just wanting to make it better than it is now.

------------------------------
Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
Piano Technician / Artisan
(256) 947-9999
www.professional-piano-services.com
------------------------------

Hi all, 

This week I installed a new set of Renner hammer, shanks, and flanges on a M&H BB action. I went back today to put in the action, and couldn't get it in because the drop screws are too high. I had to turn down the drop screws in order to get it in the action cavity. Once it was in, I was able to reset the glide bolts, which helped quite a bit (they were protruding about a 1/4" more than they should have been). I was then able to raise drop back up a little, but I still couldn't get those screws as high as I wanted. It's not bad, but not great either. Probably about 1/16"-1/8" below what it should be. 

Is there a way to get drop any higher? I really don't want to sand the bottom of the pin block on this piano, as the finish is in good condition and I'd hate to accidentally mess it up. I thought about sanding the bottom of the action down a little, but I'm afraid too much would change and then I'd have to re-regulate everything. I'm not sure it's possible to grind down the tops of the drop screws, or if I'd want to. 

I'm going back in a few months to do the next tuning and some follow up voicing, so this isn't anything urgent, but any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

P.S. Both the clients absolutely loved the touch and tone of their piano afterwards. I'm not so concerned with that front as just wanting to make it better than it is now.

------------------------------
Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
Piano Technician / Artisan
(256) 947-9999
www.professional-piano-services.com
------------------------------

Hi Mark,

That's a fair point, but I believe the drop screws on WNG, Renner, Abel and Tokiwa are all the same around 13mm. NYI is around 11mm but irrelevant here. If Ben follows up, perhaps he can confirm because a longer drop screw would certainly be a potential problem, and of course anything requiring an abnormally high regulation of the drop screw... 

Hi all, 

This week I installed a new set of Renner hammer, shanks, and flanges on a M&H BB action. I went back today to put in the action, and couldn't get it in because the drop screws are too high. I had to turn down the drop screws in order to get it in the action cavity. Once it was in, I was able to reset the glide bolts, which helped quite a bit (they were protruding about a 1/4" more than they should have been). I was then able to raise drop back up a little, but I still couldn't get those screws as high as I wanted. It's not bad, but not great either. Probably about 1/16"-1/8" below what it should be. 

Is there a way to get drop any higher? I really don't want to sand the bottom of the pin block on this piano, as the finish is in good condition and I'd hate to accidentally mess it up. I thought about sanding the bottom of the action down a little, but I'm afraid too much would change and then I'd have to re-regulate everything. I'm not sure it's possible to grind down the tops of the drop screws, or if I'd want to. 

I'm going back in a few months to do the next tuning and some follow up voicing, so this isn't anything urgent, but any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

P.S. Both the clients absolutely loved the touch and tone of their piano afterwards. I'm not so concerned with that front as just wanting to make it better than it is now.

------------------------------
Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
Piano Technician / Artisan
(256) 947-9999
www.professional-piano-services.com
------------------------------

Hi Thomas,

I think you are correct in your assessment. 

Hi Jude,

Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, I believe you're correct with the length of the drop screws. I'm not sure if that's the problem as much as too thick of repetition lever leathers, as several others have suggested. Either could be the cause.

At this point, I'm hoping to get by without replacing parts again. I'll talk to the owners about replacing the leathers and see if that's something they want to do at this time. It seems like the easiest option that's been suggested, given that they already appear abnormally thick. 

Hi Mark,

That's a fair point, but I believe the drop screws on WNG, Renner, Abel and Tokiwa are all the same around 13mm. NYI is around 11mm but irrelevant here. If Ben follows up, perhaps he can confirm because a longer drop screw would certainly be a potential problem, and of course anything requiring an abnormally high regulation of the drop screw... 

Hi all, 

This week I installed a new set of Renner hammer, shanks, and flanges on a M&H BB action. I went back today to put in the action, and couldn't get it in because the drop screws are too high. I had to turn down the drop screws in order to get it in the action cavity. Once it was in, I was able to reset the glide bolts, which helped quite a bit (they were protruding about a 1/4" more than they should have been). I was then able to raise drop back up a little, but I still couldn't get those screws as high as I wanted. It's not bad, but not great either. Probably about 1/16"-1/8" below what it should be. 

Is there a way to get drop any higher? I really don't want to sand the bottom of the pin block on this piano, as the finish is in good condition and I'd hate to accidentally mess it up. I thought about sanding the bottom of the action down a little, but I'm afraid too much would change and then I'd have to re-regulate everything. I'm not sure it's possible to grind down the tops of the drop screws, or if I'd want to. 

I'm going back in a few months to do the next tuning and some follow up voicing, so this isn't anything urgent, but any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

P.S. Both the clients absolutely loved the touch and tone of their piano afterwards. I'm not so concerned with that front as just wanting to make it better than it is now.

------------------------------
Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
Piano Technician / Artisan
(256) 947-9999
www.professional-piano-services.com
------------------------------