Pianotech

Thanks to both of you. Debra, you're saying that the tape is adequate clamping? That will simplify things.

The big issue is successfully pulling and disassembling the action. At least as complicated as pulling an old player stack as a preliminary. And then getting the whole thing back together again so it doesn't go up in smoke. I've been warned to put the grounding wires exactly where I find them.

Thanks to both of you. Debra, you're saying that the tape is adequate clamping? That will simplify things.

The big issue is successfully pulling and disassembling the action. At least as complicated as pulling an old player stack as a preliminary. And then getting the whole thing back together again so it doesn't go up in smoke. I've been warned to put the grounding wires exactly where I find them.

As to clamping, I've done dozens of sets of tops using PVC-E or similar, and never clamped any of them. Depends on what the glue needs. 

I was asked to add weight to the action of an N2 hybrid. I presumed it would come out like any grand action. 

Nope. 

I spent more than two hours unscrewing and removing parts of the case, the entire speaker system, parts of what looks like a soundboard, unplugging cables until my very patience and perseverance as a piano technician was coming close to an end. 

And I never got the action out. I wound up accessing it from above through a gap that was created above the hammer shanks. 

I recommend planning on a long day of frustration. Charge accordingly. 

As to clamping, I've done dozens of sets of tops using PVC-E or similar, and never clamped any of them. Depends on what the glue needs. 

I was asked to add weight to the action of an N2 hybrid. I presumed it would come out like any grand action. 

Nope. 

I spent more than two hours unscrewing and removing parts of the case, the entire speaker system, parts of what looks like a soundboard, unplugging cables until my very patience and perseverance as a piano technician was coming close to an end. 

And I never got the action out. I wound up accessing it from above through a gap that was created above the hammer shanks. 

I recommend planning on a long day of frustration. Charge accordingly. 

Does this mean that the glue line in this process is relatively thick (as glue joints go), and remains relatively flexible?  Is this the idea? Just curious since it seems relatively counter-intuitive. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

As to clamping, I've done dozens of sets of tops using PVC-E or similar, and never clamped any of them. Depends on what the glue needs. 

I was asked to add weight to the action of an N2 hybrid. I presumed it would come out like any grand action. 

Nope. 

I spent more than two hours unscrewing and removing parts of the case, the entire speaker system, parts of what looks like a soundboard, unplugging cables until my very patience and perseverance as a piano technician was coming close to an end. 

And I never got the action out. I wound up accessing it from above through a gap that was created above the hammer shanks. 

I recommend planning on a long day of frustration. Charge accordingly. 

Here is a thread about opening an N2

https://my.ptg.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?GroupId=49&MessageKey=df9a8109-c8c5-453a-b6f5-7c2b822beba8&CommunityKey=76c8d8e5-6fa1-4522-9fa9-006ff252729b&tab=digestviewer

The thread has a link to a pdf from Yamaha. It's quite a process getting the action out, but with the pdf it's doable. I just needed to tighten the wippen screws. It took hours but this thread saved me.

Does this mean that the glue line in this process is relatively thick (as glue joints go), and remains relatively flexible?  Is this the idea? Just curious since it seems relatively counter-intuitive. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

As to clamping, I've done dozens of sets of tops using PVC-E or similar, and never clamped any of them. Depends on what the glue needs. 

I was asked to add weight to the action of an N2 hybrid. I presumed it would come out like any grand action. 

Nope. 

I spent more than two hours unscrewing and removing parts of the case, the entire speaker system, parts of what looks like a soundboard, unplugging cables until my very patience and perseverance as a piano technician was coming close to an end. 

And I never got the action out. I wound up accessing it from above through a gap that was created above the hammer shanks. 

I recommend planning on a long day of frustration. Charge accordingly. 

Actualy, if I was replacing keytops on one of these, I would make every effort to get it done with the keys in the piano. With Roo Glue you don't need to clamp. Hopefully most of the originals are still in place and can be used as guides (Don't remove them all at the begining!). You don't really need the tape. Just go back and check throughout the process making sure none have gotten nudged out of place somehow. You can always pull one off and reglue if necesarry. I do this in the piano on C2s all the time.

Here is a thread about opening an N2

https://my.ptg.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?GroupId=49&MessageKey=df9a8109-c8c5-453a-b6f5-7c2b822beba8&CommunityKey=76c8d8e5-6fa1-4522-9fa9-006ff252729b&tab=digestviewer

The thread has a link to a pdf from Yamaha. It's quite a process getting the action out, but with the pdf it's doable. I just needed to tighten the wippen screws. It took hours but this thread saved me.

Does this mean that the glue line in this process is relatively thick (as glue joints go), and remains relatively flexible?  Is this the idea? Just curious since it seems relatively counter-intuitive. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor