Tokai never qualified for export approval from the Japanese board of trade, so the ones you see over here were usually brought over by servicemen stationed over there or by some other third party. I've encountered a handful over the years in L.A. Not the best quality.
Needless to say if this is an intermittent problem, make sure she's identlfied some of the culprits before you return.
My usual approach would be: pull the acton, disconnect the damper wire and check the underlever flange. They should be pretty loose. If you suspect tight flanges, pull the underlever and do a swing test to be sure. (Make sure you've got a long enough screw-starter to get the flange back in again.) Check the leads if they have any to make sure they're not swollen or walking out. Reconnect the damper and and visually inspect the bends in the wire. If they are relatively uniform look for any oddballs. If they're not uniform you might try nudging the bend in a sluggish one a little to see if that helps--sometimes perfectly vertical is not your friend, especially in these economy models. There should be some play in the guide rail bushing, not tight all around. If all this checks out I'll mention one other problem I encountered once on a Kawai KG2--when the unstop rail felt was badly worn the underlevers would jam in the up position.
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Cecil Snyder RPT
Torrance CA
(310) 542-7108
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-26-2022 21:55
From: James Kelly
Subject: Tokai grand damper issues
Tokai according to the Pierce Atlas was a Japanese piano maker but did not make volumes of pianos and no more are listed after 1983 . the only way to know it is the center pins is to remove a flange and test it. Lubrication may help them as well plus taking off the dampers, cleaning and polishing the damper wires, easing the damper guide rail bushing and putting some teflon powder in the bushing hole . Remove the action and lift dampers individually as well as with the rail. What is the humidity like there this time of year and inside the house.
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James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357
Original Message:
Sent: 10-26-2022 17:29
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Tokai grand damper issues
Hi everyone,
I have a customer who recently acquired very small Tokai grand. Recently, she says the dampers get hung up, but only after she's been playing it for an hour or so. This sounds suspiciously like similar problems with Sammick/Young Chang. When I tuned it a couple of months ago, I didn't notice any problems.
Anyone have any experience with Tokai? Is this a center pin issue with the damper flanges? Any suggestions as to what to look for when I go back?
thanks!
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Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
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