Pianotech

So I went out to a church way out in the boonies (an hour away from my house) to help them diagnose a damper problem.  I pulled the action out and determined that the 2 extreme side pieces on the lifter assembly were non-functional. The pedal actually lifts the bar and most of the dampers will rise, but the bass dampers stay down. Some tooner had tried to fix it by putting a rubber band around it to hold it in place.  It looks like an oversize flange and I think the pin has worked its way out on each end and the rubber band is some sort of stopgap to keep the pin from working its way out.  I enclosed a picture with the flange highlighted.

By adjusting the pedal rod, I was able to get the bar to lift the bass dampers just enough to sustain.  It is a very temporary repair.

So to fix it, do you all think I should get new "oversize" flanges to hold the side wood pieces stationary?  Also, do you know where I can get those sorts of parts?

Thank you in advance!


------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 9/21/2022 11:48:00 AM
From: Patrick Greene
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

So I went out to a church way out in the boonies (an hour away from my house) to help them diagnose a damper problem.  I pulled the action out and determined that the 2 extreme side pieces on the lifter assembly were non-functional. The pedal actually lifts the bar and most of the dampers will rise, but the bass dampers stay down. Some tooner had tried to fix it by putting a rubber band around it to hold it in place.  It looks like an oversize flange and I think the pin has worked its way out on each end and the rubber band is some sort of stopgap to keep the pin from working its way out.  I enclosed a picture with the flange highlighted.

By adjusting the pedal rod, I was able to get the bar to lift the bass dampers just enough to sustain.  It is a very temporary repair.

So to fix it, do you all think I should get new "oversize" flanges to hold the side wood pieces stationary?  Also, do you know where I can get those sorts of parts?

Thank you in advance!


------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

Wim, 

Good eye.  I don't think the flange is broken, just worn out.  I believe that you are correct in that I will need to remove the back action to get at the problem, I just want to make sure I take my time and do it 100% correctly.  I have been tuning a long time, but haven't done this sort of repair work.  I don't want to refuse these folks because the tuners for that area are dead or retired.

Thank you so much for helping me with my own dilemmas over the years.  I hope that these questions have helped other piano tuners figure out how to repair their own thorny issues.  :-)

Patrick

------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-21-2022 12:00
From: Wim Blees
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Patrick

I can't quite figure out what the problem is, but it looks like the rubber band is holding the lever that holds the tray to the flange. Maybe the screws that hold that lever are loose. Or, perhaps the flange that holds that lever to the back rail is broken. It doesn't need a bigger flange, but you might have to repin the flange with a thicker center pin).  In either case, it might be necessary to remove all the dampers and take the whole back action out to see what the real problem is. 

Perhaps the previous tuner knew that this is what needed to be done, and gave an estimate to the church, and they said they couldn't afford it. That is why he rigged it with a rubber band. In other words, you need to warn the church that this might be an expensive repair. 

Wim 

Original Message:
Sent: 9/21/2022 11:48:00 AM
From: Patrick Greene
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

So I went out to a church way out in the boonies (an hour away from my house) to help them diagnose a damper problem.  I pulled the action out and determined that the 2 extreme side pieces on the lifter assembly were non-functional. The pedal actually lifts the bar and most of the dampers will rise, but the bass dampers stay down. Some tooner had tried to fix it by putting a rubber band around it to hold it in place.  It looks like an oversize flange and I think the pin has worked its way out on each end and the rubber band is some sort of stopgap to keep the pin from working its way out.  I enclosed a picture with the flange highlighted.

By adjusting the pedal rod, I was able to get the bar to lift the bass dampers just enough to sustain.  It is a very temporary repair.

So to fix it, do you all think I should get new "oversize" flanges to hold the side wood pieces stationary?  Also, do you know where I can get those sorts of parts?

Thank you in advance!


------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

Oftentimes, The screws that mount the arm to the lift tray become loose. To tighten them, you need to unscrew the rail from the bulkhead and pull it forward enough to get a   l o n g   phillips screw driver down between the strings.
For this, you can keep the dampers in place. Once the lift tray has beed secured, screw the rail back to the bulkhead.

If the center is too loose; raise the upstop rail, raise the tray to access the screw and unscrew the flange. Unscrew the arm from the tray. No need to remove the dampers.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
http://www.pianocapecod.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-21-2022 11:48
From: Patrick Greene
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

So I went out to a church way out in the boonies (an hour away from my house) to help them diagnose a damper problem.  I pulled the action out and determined that the 2 extreme side pieces on the lifter assembly were non-functional. The pedal actually lifts the bar and most of the dampers will rise, but the bass dampers stay down. Some tooner had tried to fix it by putting a rubber band around it to hold it in place.  It looks like an oversize flange and I think the pin has worked its way out on each end and the rubber band is some sort of stopgap to keep the pin from working its way out.  I enclosed a picture with the flange highlighted.

By adjusting the pedal rod, I was able to get the bar to lift the bass dampers just enough to sustain.  It is a very temporary repair.

So to fix it, do you all think I should get new "oversize" flanges to hold the side wood pieces stationary?  Also, do you know where I can get those sorts of parts?

Thank you in advance!


------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 9/21/2022 12:29:00 PM
From: Jon Page
Subject: RE: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Oftentimes, The screws that mount the arm to the lift tray become loose. To tighten them, you need to unscrew the rail from the bulkhead and pull it forward enough to get a   l o n g   phillips screw driver down between the strings.
For this, you can keep the dampers in place. Once the lift tray has beed secured, screw the rail back to the bulkhead.

If the center is too loose; raise the upstop rail, raise the tray to access the screw and unscrew the flange. Unscrew the arm from the tray. No need to remove the dampers.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
http://www.pianocapecod.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-21-2022 11:48
From: Patrick Greene
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

So I went out to a church way out in the boonies (an hour away from my house) to help them diagnose a damper problem.  I pulled the action out and determined that the 2 extreme side pieces on the lifter assembly were non-functional. The pedal actually lifts the bar and most of the dampers will rise, but the bass dampers stay down. Some tooner had tried to fix it by putting a rubber band around it to hold it in place.  It looks like an oversize flange and I think the pin has worked its way out on each end and the rubber band is some sort of stopgap to keep the pin from working its way out.  I enclosed a picture with the flange highlighted.

By adjusting the pedal rod, I was able to get the bar to lift the bass dampers just enough to sustain.  It is a very temporary repair.

So to fix it, do you all think I should get new "oversize" flanges to hold the side wood pieces stationary?  Also, do you know where I can get those sorts of parts?

Thank you in advance!


------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

Thank you Jon and Jessica.  From the excellent way you described the process, I know that I can repair this.

------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-22-2022 09:15
From: Jessica Masse
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Hi, 

Yes,  because you are talking About a church and they are notorious for not having ideal climates the screws holding the tray to the flange probably came loose.  Sometimes they split sometimes the flange with the pivot splits or bushings wear. 

Make a note of where the damper stop rail is Loosen the damper stop rail screws push the stop ra up as high as possible.  Then you will be able to see the heads of the screws and more of the flange itself.  You have to do more investigating don't forget there is usually one in the middle.  

For these pianos you need the very long Philips and also an offset ratcheting screw driver the shortest one you can get ( I had to grind the head off mine to make it shorter )and patience.  The rest is easy.

Jessica Masse RPT

--

Sent from Gmail Mobile

Original Message:
Sent: 9/21/2022 12:29:00 PM
From: Jon Page
Subject: RE: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Oftentimes, The screws that mount the arm to the lift tray become loose. To tighten them, you need to unscrew the rail from the bulkhead and pull it forward enough to get a   l o n g   phillips screw driver down between the strings.
For this, you can keep the dampers in place. Once the lift tray has beed secured, screw the rail back to the bulkhead.

If the center is too loose; raise the upstop rail, raise the tray to access the screw and unscrew the flange. Unscrew the arm from the tray. No need to remove the dampers.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
http://www.pianocapecod.com

Original Message:
Sent: 09-21-2022 11:48
From: Patrick Greene
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

So I went out to a church way out in the boonies (an hour away from my house) to help them diagnose a damper problem.  I pulled the action out and determined that the 2 extreme side pieces on the lifter assembly were non-functional. The pedal actually lifts the bar and most of the dampers will rise, but the bass dampers stay down. Some tooner had tried to fix it by putting a rubber band around it to hold it in place.  It looks like an oversize flange and I think the pin has worked its way out on each end and the rubber band is some sort of stopgap to keep the pin from working its way out.  I enclosed a picture with the flange highlighted.

By adjusting the pedal rod, I was able to get the bar to lift the bass dampers just enough to sustain.  It is a very temporary repair.

So to fix it, do you all think I should get new "oversize" flanges to hold the side wood pieces stationary?  Also, do you know where I can get those sorts of parts?

Thank you in advance!


------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

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

Original Message:
Sent: 09-22-2022 10:29
From: Patrick Greene
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Thank you Jon and Jessica.  From the excellent way you described the process, I know that I can repair this.

------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582

Original Message:
Sent: 09-22-2022 09:15
From: Jessica Masse
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Hi, 

Yes,  because you are talking About a church and they are notorious for not having ideal climates the screws holding the tray to the flange probably came loose.  Sometimes they split sometimes the flange with the pivot splits or bushings wear. 

Make a note of where the damper stop rail is Loosen the damper stop rail screws push the stop ra up as high as possible.  Then you will be able to see the heads of the screws and more of the flange itself.  You have to do more investigating don't forget there is usually one in the middle.  

For these pianos you need the very long Philips and also an offset ratcheting screw driver the shortest one you can get ( I had to grind the head off mine to make it shorter )and patience.  The rest is easy.

Jessica Masse RPT

--

Sent from Gmail Mobile

Original Message:
Sent: 9/21/2022 12:29:00 PM
From: Jon Page
Subject: RE: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Oftentimes, The screws that mount the arm to the lift tray become loose. To tighten them, you need to unscrew the rail from the bulkhead and pull it forward enough to get a   l o n g   phillips screw driver down between the strings.
For this, you can keep the dampers in place. Once the lift tray has beed secured, screw the rail back to the bulkhead.

If the center is too loose; raise the upstop rail, raise the tray to access the screw and unscrew the flange. Unscrew the arm from the tray. No need to remove the dampers.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
http://www.pianocapecod.com

Original Message:
Sent: 09-21-2022 11:48
From: Patrick Greene
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

So I went out to a church way out in the boonies (an hour away from my house) to help them diagnose a damper problem.  I pulled the action out and determined that the 2 extreme side pieces on the lifter assembly were non-functional. The pedal actually lifts the bar and most of the dampers will rise, but the bass dampers stay down. Some tooner had tried to fix it by putting a rubber band around it to hold it in place.  It looks like an oversize flange and I think the pin has worked its way out on each end and the rubber band is some sort of stopgap to keep the pin from working its way out.  I enclosed a picture with the flange highlighted.

By adjusting the pedal rod, I was able to get the bar to lift the bass dampers just enough to sustain.  It is a very temporary repair.

So to fix it, do you all think I should get new "oversize" flanges to hold the side wood pieces stationary?  Also, do you know where I can get those sorts of parts?

Thank you in advance!


------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

Thanks again Larry.  I got hold of Kawai and they are sending me two new flanges/blocks.

The current part number is 35-200 RX-2

it took them a few hours to locate the part in their warehouse. 

------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-22-2022 12:46
From: Larry Messerly
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Contact Kawai for the rest of the story

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

Original Message:
Sent: 09-22-2022 10:29
From: Patrick Greene
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Thank you Jon and Jessica.  From the excellent way you described the process, I know that I can repair this.

------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582

Original Message:
Sent: 09-22-2022 09:15
From: Jessica Masse
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Hi, 

Yes,  because you are talking About a church and they are notorious for not having ideal climates the screws holding the tray to the flange probably came loose.  Sometimes they split sometimes the flange with the pivot splits or bushings wear. 

Make a note of where the damper stop rail is Loosen the damper stop rail screws push the stop ra up as high as possible.  Then you will be able to see the heads of the screws and more of the flange itself.  You have to do more investigating don't forget there is usually one in the middle.  

For these pianos you need the very long Philips and also an offset ratcheting screw driver the shortest one you can get ( I had to grind the head off mine to make it shorter )and patience.  The rest is easy.

Jessica Masse RPT

--

Sent from Gmail Mobile

Original Message:
Sent: 9/21/2022 12:29:00 PM
From: Jon Page
Subject: RE: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Oftentimes, The screws that mount the arm to the lift tray become loose. To tighten them, you need to unscrew the rail from the bulkhead and pull it forward enough to get a   l o n g   phillips screw driver down between the strings.
For this, you can keep the dampers in place. Once the lift tray has beed secured, screw the rail back to the bulkhead.

If the center is too loose; raise the upstop rail, raise the tray to access the screw and unscrew the flange. Unscrew the arm from the tray. No need to remove the dampers.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
http://www.pianocapecod.com

Original Message:
Sent: 09-21-2022 11:48
From: Patrick Greene
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

So I went out to a church way out in the boonies (an hour away from my house) to help them diagnose a damper problem.  I pulled the action out and determined that the 2 extreme side pieces on the lifter assembly were non-functional. The pedal actually lifts the bar and most of the dampers will rise, but the bass dampers stay down. Some tooner had tried to fix it by putting a rubber band around it to hold it in place.  It looks like an oversize flange and I think the pin has worked its way out on each end and the rubber band is some sort of stopgap to keep the pin from working its way out.  I enclosed a picture with the flange highlighted.

By adjusting the pedal rod, I was able to get the bar to lift the bass dampers just enough to sustain.  It is a very temporary repair.

So to fix it, do you all think I should get new "oversize" flanges to hold the side wood pieces stationary?  Also, do you know where I can get those sorts of parts?

Thank you in advance!


------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

I recently came across a problem with the tray on a KG-2A. It wasn’t loose screws, but center pins walking out of the flanges and a wallowed out bird’s eye. Not having a new tray flange on hand, I filled in the wallow with a strip of buckskin and used a new center pin as a caul until it was dry. I shaped the bird’s eye with a razor. Thankfully I had to work on the underlevers and retime the dampers anyway, but if you can get away with leaving the dampers in place, absolutely do so!


Joe Wiencek
NYC


Original Message:
Sent: 9/22/2022 10:30:00 AM
From: Patrick Greene
Subject: RE: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Thank you Jon and Jessica.  From the excellent way you described the process, I know that I can repair this.

------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-22-2022 09:15
From: Jessica Masse
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Hi, 

Yes,  because you are talking About a church and they are notorious for not having ideal climates the screws holding the tray to the flange probably came loose.  Sometimes they split sometimes the flange with the pivot splits or bushings wear. 

Make a note of where the damper stop rail is Loosen the damper stop rail screws push the stop ra up as high as possible.  Then you will be able to see the heads of the screws and more of the flange itself.  You have to do more investigating don't forget there is usually one in the middle.  

For these pianos you need the very long Philips and also an offset ratcheting screw driver the shortest one you can get ( I had to grind the head off mine to make it shorter )and patience.  The rest is easy.

Jessica Masse RPT

--

Sent from Gmail Mobile

Original Message:
Sent: 9/21/2022 12:29:00 PM
From: Jon Page
Subject: RE: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Oftentimes, The screws that mount the arm to the lift tray become loose. To tighten them, you need to unscrew the rail from the bulkhead and pull it forward enough to get a   l o n g   phillips screw driver down between the strings.
For this, you can keep the dampers in place. Once the lift tray has beed secured, screw the rail back to the bulkhead.

If the center is too loose; raise the upstop rail, raise the tray to access the screw and unscrew the flange. Unscrew the arm from the tray. No need to remove the dampers.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
http://www.pianocapecod.com

Original Message:
Sent: 09-21-2022 11:48
From: Patrick Greene
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

So I went out to a church way out in the boonies (an hour away from my house) to help them diagnose a damper problem.  I pulled the action out and determined that the 2 extreme side pieces on the lifter assembly were non-functional. The pedal actually lifts the bar and most of the dampers will rise, but the bass dampers stay down. Some tooner had tried to fix it by putting a rubber band around it to hold it in place.  It looks like an oversize flange and I think the pin has worked its way out on each end and the rubber band is some sort of stopgap to keep the pin from working its way out.  I enclosed a picture with the flange highlighted.

By adjusting the pedal rod, I was able to get the bar to lift the bass dampers just enough to sustain.  It is a very temporary repair.

So to fix it, do you all think I should get new "oversize" flanges to hold the side wood pieces stationary?  Also, do you know where I can get those sorts of parts?

Thank you in advance!


------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

I was on a cruise when the damper lift tray failed in the piano bar. I made the mistake of telling the pianist I was a piano tech. Anyway after the last show in the main theater we went to the piano bar to relax and it was silent. All of a sudden the pianist yells out there he is, there he is to the cruise director. Next morning I went to the bar and checked the piano which was a Yamaha. pulled the action out and saw that the pins on the end flanges had walked out . No piano tools or parts but I went to the casino manager who gave me access to the casino machine repair tool room. Damn. Long rows of Craftsmen tool cabinets and tools. Got pliers, screw drivers, wire cutters. Found some pieces of piano wire on the floor under the piano and jerry rigged the flanges with piano wire twisted tightly . Worked like a charm for the entire cruise. Every time we visited the bar the pianist recognized me and drinks where on the house.

Moral lessons from  the story- Piano technicians like challenges ;     You are never really on vacation if you are a piano technician

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

Original Message:
Sent: 09-23-2022 16:45
From: Joe Wiencek
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

I recently came across a problem with the tray on a KG-2A. It wasn't loose screws, but center pins walking out of the flanges and a wallowed out bird's eye. Not having a new tray flange on hand, I filled in the wallow with a strip of buckskin and used a new center pin as a caul until it was dry. I shaped the bird's eye with a razor. Thankfully I had to work on the underlevers and retime the dampers anyway, but if you can get away with leaving the dampers in place, absolutely do so!


Joe Wiencek
NYC


Original Message:
Sent: 9/22/2022 10:30:00 AM
From: Patrick Greene
Subject: RE: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Thank you Jon and Jessica.  From the excellent way you described the process, I know that I can repair this.

------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582

Original Message:
Sent: 09-22-2022 09:15
From: Jessica Masse
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Hi, 

Yes,  because you are talking About a church and they are notorious for not having ideal climates the screws holding the tray to the flange probably came loose.  Sometimes they split sometimes the flange with the pivot splits or bushings wear. 

Make a note of where the damper stop rail is Loosen the damper stop rail screws push the stop ra up as high as possible.  Then you will be able to see the heads of the screws and more of the flange itself.  You have to do more investigating don't forget there is usually one in the middle.  

For these pianos you need the very long Philips and also an offset ratcheting screw driver the shortest one you can get ( I had to grind the head off mine to make it shorter )and patience.  The rest is easy.

Jessica Masse RPT

--

Sent from Gmail Mobile

Original Message:
Sent: 9/21/2022 12:29:00 PM
From: Jon Page
Subject: RE: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Oftentimes, The screws that mount the arm to the lift tray become loose. To tighten them, you need to unscrew the rail from the bulkhead and pull it forward enough to get a   l o n g   phillips screw driver down between the strings.
For this, you can keep the dampers in place. Once the lift tray has beed secured, screw the rail back to the bulkhead.

If the center is too loose; raise the upstop rail, raise the tray to access the screw and unscrew the flange. Unscrew the arm from the tray. No need to remove the dampers.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
http://www.pianocapecod.com

Original Message:
Sent: 09-21-2022 11:48
From: Patrick Greene
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

So I went out to a church way out in the boonies (an hour away from my house) to help them diagnose a damper problem.  I pulled the action out and determined that the 2 extreme side pieces on the lifter assembly were non-functional. The pedal actually lifts the bar and most of the dampers will rise, but the bass dampers stay down. Some tooner had tried to fix it by putting a rubber band around it to hold it in place.  It looks like an oversize flange and I think the pin has worked its way out on each end and the rubber band is some sort of stopgap to keep the pin from working its way out.  I enclosed a picture with the flange highlighted.

By adjusting the pedal rod, I was able to get the bar to lift the bass dampers just enough to sustain.  It is a very temporary repair.

So to fix it, do you all think I should get new "oversize" flanges to hold the side wood pieces stationary?  Also, do you know where I can get those sorts of parts?

Thank you in advance!


------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

I completed the work yesterday.  It took me about 45 minutes to complete it and the customer was happy with the results .  All the advice I received was very helpful, so a big thank you to you all!

------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-23-2022 19:50
From: James Kelly
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

I was on a cruise when the damper lift tray failed in the piano bar. I made the mistake of telling the pianist I was a piano tech. Anyway after the last show in the main theater we went to the piano bar to relax and it was silent. All of a sudden the pianist yells out there he is, there he is to the cruise director. Next morning I went to the bar and checked the piano which was a Yamaha. pulled the action out and saw that the pins on the end flanges had walked out . No piano tools or parts but I went to the casino manager who gave me access to the casino machine repair tool room. Damn. Long rows of Craftsmen tool cabinets and tools. Got pliers, screw drivers, wire cutters. Found some pieces of piano wire on the floor under the piano and jerry rigged the flanges with piano wire twisted tightly . Worked like a charm for the entire cruise. Every time we visited the bar the pianist recognized me and drinks where on the house.

Moral lessons from  the story- Piano technicians like challenges ;     You are never really on vacation if you are a piano technician

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

Original Message:
Sent: 09-23-2022 16:45
From: Joe Wiencek
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

I recently came across a problem with the tray on a KG-2A. It wasn't loose screws, but center pins walking out of the flanges and a wallowed out bird's eye. Not having a new tray flange on hand, I filled in the wallow with a strip of buckskin and used a new center pin as a caul until it was dry. I shaped the bird's eye with a razor. Thankfully I had to work on the underlevers and retime the dampers anyway, but if you can get away with leaving the dampers in place, absolutely do so!


Joe Wiencek
NYC


Original Message:
Sent: 9/22/2022 10:30:00 AM
From: Patrick Greene
Subject: RE: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Thank you Jon and Jessica.  From the excellent way you described the process, I know that I can repair this.

------------------------------
Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582

Original Message:
Sent: 09-22-2022 09:15
From: Jessica Masse
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Hi, 

Yes,  because you are talking About a church and they are notorious for not having ideal climates the screws holding the tray to the flange probably came loose.  Sometimes they split sometimes the flange with the pivot splits or bushings wear. 

Make a note of where the damper stop rail is Loosen the damper stop rail screws push the stop ra up as high as possible.  Then you will be able to see the heads of the screws and more of the flange itself.  You have to do more investigating don't forget there is usually one in the middle.  

For these pianos you need the very long Philips and also an offset ratcheting screw driver the shortest one you can get ( I had to grind the head off mine to make it shorter )and patience.  The rest is easy.

Jessica Masse RPT

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Original Message:
Sent: 9/21/2022 12:29:00 PM
From: Jon Page
Subject: RE: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

Oftentimes, The screws that mount the arm to the lift tray become loose. To tighten them, you need to unscrew the rail from the bulkhead and pull it forward enough to get a   l o n g   phillips screw driver down between the strings.
For this, you can keep the dampers in place. Once the lift tray has beed secured, screw the rail back to the bulkhead.

If the center is too loose; raise the upstop rail, raise the tray to access the screw and unscrew the flange. Unscrew the arm from the tray. No need to remove the dampers.

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Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
http://www.pianocapecod.com

Original Message:
Sent: 09-21-2022 11:48
From: Patrick Greene
Subject: Kawai Damper Lifter Assembly question

So I went out to a church way out in the boonies (an hour away from my house) to help them diagnose a damper problem.  I pulled the action out and determined that the 2 extreme side pieces on the lifter assembly were non-functional. The pedal actually lifts the bar and most of the dampers will rise, but the bass dampers stay down. Some tooner had tried to fix it by putting a rubber band around it to hold it in place.  It looks like an oversize flange and I think the pin has worked its way out on each end and the rubber band is some sort of stopgap to keep the pin from working its way out.  I enclosed a picture with the flange highlighted.

By adjusting the pedal rod, I was able to get the bar to lift the bass dampers just enough to sustain.  It is a very temporary repair.

So to fix it, do you all think I should get new "oversize" flanges to hold the side wood pieces stationary?  Also, do you know where I can get those sorts of parts?

Thank you in advance!


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Patrick Greene
OWNER
Knoxville TN
(865) 384-6582
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