Hi,
I can't tell you how many parts just fall out on the floor! Some get lost. Once I entered a faculty members room and started to tell her her bench was missing parts (shoulder bolt) and she reached into her desk and gave me a handful.
At the beginning of the lock down for covid, I ordered lots of bushings and parts and went through all of our benches. Through this I had to bring out my tap and die set and run the die over the shoulder bolts I think the set screws flattens the threads some because these bolts want to work themselves out and the smooth part of the bolt will rust-clean this with WD 40 and dry. Yesterday I found one that had most of the screw and bolts loose in the wood and rails! One of the screws holding the rail block, to the top cleat had fallen out and was missing. The cleat screws (painted black) to the bottom of the top were all loose, corner wood brace screws all loose. Sometimes I find missing set screws. The wood screws come loose when the wood dries out.
I see some users sharing a technique of rocking the bench to put the seat up. This, I think pulls everything apart. Placing the bench upside down on the top of the piano risks breaking the box frame holding the legs when it gets put on the floor. I was somewhere a couple of weeks ago and I knew the box was cracked at the corner bracket slot at the top of the frame, where it can't be seen but can be felt and told them how to fix it. These benches take a lot of time to maintain but are usually very serviceable and with experience gets easier.
This benches require our attention every time we service a piano. Don't wait to fix the problems.
Jessica Masse RPT
Western Michigan University
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Jessica Masse RPT
Western Michigan University
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-29-2022 10:06
From: Dave Conte
Subject: Jansen artist benches
There are numerous Jansen artist benches (with Steinway knobs) in the music building that are loose. When servicing one, I found all the shoulder bolts are cross-threaded and almost impossible to remove. First, I can't believe this could happen and spoke to Paul Jansen about it who had likewise disbelief as they are hardened tool steel. But the fact remains that they are boogered-up. I fear I am going to run into this again as I continue repairing the rest. The couple I have already done did not have this problem, but it is early in the process of many. Has anyone else encountered this, and if so, how did you manage to get them out? If anyone has had experience with this, how you solved this would be appreciated. FYI - when I did *finally* get them out, I chased the female threads with new shoulder bolts I had spares of, which worked, but they were sacrificed in the process. So I am going to purchase a tap to chase the boogered female threads. Thanks!
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Dave Conte
University of Tennessee
Knoxville TN
817-307-5656
Owner: Rocky Top Piano
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