CAUT

  • 1.  noisy WNG action

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-06-2025 16:35

    Today I evaluated a piano with a WNG action that was quite noisy. The noise is like the clickety clackity sound of loose flange screws but, they are all tight. I have installed a few WNG actions in the past but unfortunately, I have not been able to see them since. Those that I did install never exhibited this noise during the time I serviced them. I wonder if they are noisy now! 

    When I installed the WNG actions in the past, I did have to repin to get proper friction. The pinning is very loose on this action and I am guessing that is the problem. Unfortunately, I forgot to take along my WNG pinning tools for this evaluation. Might anyone have experience silencing a noisy WNG action and how did you solve the problem?



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    [Don] [McKechnie,] [RPT]
    [Piano Technician]
    [dmckech@ithaca.edu]
    [Home 607.277.7112]
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  • 2.  RE: noisy WNG action

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-06-2025 17:12

    Several weeks ago Ed Foote posted on Facebook regarding this topic. His conclusion was that it was caused by loose pinning of the jack centers. Perhaps check with Ed for his further comments.



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    Patrick Draine RPT
    Billerica MA
    (978) 663-9690
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  • 3.  RE: noisy WNG action

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-06-2025 20:08

    Thanks Patrick, I missed that post but just looked it up. If I get the job, checking the jack centers will be my first priority. However, the shank flanges are way too loose and could also be a contributing factor along with the wippen flanges. Ed mentioned that the newer knuckles help with the noise as well. I tried softening the knuckles on this action and there was minor improvement. 



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    [Don] [McKechnie,] [RPT]
    [Piano Technician]
    [dmckech@ithaca.edu]
    [Home 607.277.7112]
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: noisy WNG action

    Posted 06-06-2025 21:10
    Hi-

    Are these the newer hard bushings?  Perhaps not.  I had a problem and they told me the newer hard bushings are manufactured so they should not need repining, but if so they would replace them.  I suggested they should include more in a box then. 

    Dennis Johnson, R.P.T.
    Facebook.com/johnsonpianoservice
    (612) 599-6437  (cell)





    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: noisy WNG action

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-06-2025 22:46

    I have not kept up with all the versions of the bushings but these are the hard bushings. Were there different versions of the hard bushings? The shanks I sampled were very loose and they just flopped down and the hammer kept on swinging. As I mentioned in my reply to Patrick, I always had to repin the shanks when I put these parts on. The last one I did was about ten years ago so I hope the quality control has improved by now.



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    [Don] [McKechnie,] [RPT]
    [Piano Technician]
    [dmckech@ithaca.edu]
    [Home 607.277.7112]
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: noisy WNG action

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-07-2025 10:05
    You might also check the tails to make sure they are not falling against the assist spring part of the whippen..  You might have to trim the tails or file down the whippens if that's the case.

    Gary Bruce, RPT, CAGA
    Registered Piano Technician
    Certified Appraiser
    (405) 413-TUNE (8863)





  • 7.  RE: noisy WNG action

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-07-2025 14:14

    Thanks but there are no assist springs on the wippens.



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    [Don] [McKechnie,] [RPT]
    [Piano Technician]
    [dmckech@ithaca.edu]
    [Home 607.277.7112]
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: noisy WNG action

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-07-2025 15:07
    Just to be sure, there may not be assist springs but there might still be the bump out for adding them like in the picture. Recently put a set of whippens on a S&S M that required some work in that regard. 



    Gary Bruce, RPT, CAGA
    Registered Piano Technician
    Certified Appraiser
    (405) 413-TUNE (8863)



    Original Message