Pianotech

  • 1.  Loose Damper Lever Leads

    Posted 06-03-2022 08:05
    I have a client with a small Samick grand with a note in the middle of the keyboard that makes a click. If I lift the damper head with my fingers, the click is not heard - so I figure the click is in the damper assembly. I checked the sostenuto and all appears fine. My conclusion is that it is most likely a loose damper lever lead. This is actually the first time in my career that I've run across apparent loose damper lever leads - so new territory for me. The only remedy I had at hand was thick CA glue - so I applied that to the lead. After reassembly, I tried it out and the click was clearly eliminated.

    That was maybe three weeks ago.

    Got a text from client yesterday that the click was back. My guess is that the CA didn't penetrate much at all between the wood and the lead, perhaps loosened a bit, and is now clicking again. When I go back, I'm thinking that I could either apply thin CA or swage the lead.

    Are these the best two options? Any other good option? Can anyone think of an alternative source for the click, given what I have described above?

    Thanks so much for anyone sharing their wisdom!!

    ------------------------------
    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Loose Damper Lever Leads

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-03-2022 08:13
    I made a swaging tool by cutting off the heads two round head screws and CAing them just inside the tips of a pair of vise grips.  This won't reach everything, but I have found it helpful.

    ------------------------------
    Floyd Gadd RPT
    Regina SK
    (306) 502-9103
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Loose Damper Lever Leads

    Posted 06-03-2022 08:14

    PVC-E glue. It'll get into where it needs to go and stop the clicking. Has been a permanent fix for the pianos I see regularly that have had leads that have fallen out.


    An ideal glue spreader is the metal handle of those rubber split mutes that used to be available at supply houses. (I also use that to insert strip mutes.)



    ------------------------------
    John Formsma
    New Albany MS

    "Sneak up on optimal."
    --Ron Nossaman
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Loose Damper Lever Leads

    Posted 06-04-2022 09:36
    Yes, PVC-E has worked for me too. I think the gap filling property is good for loose fitting parts as well as I've also noticed PVC-E seems to stick well to dissimilar materials.

    A tiny artist brush is good for glue too. That metal handle on the split mute is also handy for clearing hidden debris between keys if it's a suspected cause for sticky keys.

    Gary Messling





    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Loose Damper Lever Leads

    Posted 06-03-2022 08:39
    I've come across this multiple times.
    I remove the damper lever and use medium thick ca glue, zap it and it has never failed.
    Peter

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

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Loose Damper Lever Leads

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-03-2022 21:17
    The last time I dealt with this (quite a while ago) I used my grand hammer popping pliers to swage them in. Got to be careful not to squeeze too hard as there's not much wood there. I may also have added some CA as insurance but I don't recall specifically.

    Peter Grey Piano Doctor

    ------------------------------
    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    (603) 686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message