Pianotech

Often there is an oversized lyre screw replacement that penetrates the action.  If you can swivel or pivot the action around a short arc you might even figure out which screw is the culpret.

Usually the screw only protrudes a short distance into the action and sawing off the tip is enough to get back to functioning.

Is it possible that some piano mover put the wrong screws (longer) in the side legs and screwed the keyframe to the keybed? I have seen this several times over the years.

Often there is an oversized lyre screw replacement that penetrates the action.  If you can swivel or pivot the action around a short arc you might even figure out which screw is the culpret.

Usually the screw only protrudes a short distance into the action and sawing off the tip is enough to get back to functioning.

Is it possible that some piano mover put the wrong screws (longer) in the side legs and screwed the keyframe to the keybed? I have seen this several times over the years.

Often there is an oversized lyre screw replacement that penetrates the action.  If you can swivel or pivot the action around a short arc you might even figure out which screw is the culpret.

Usually the screw only protrudes a short distance into the action and sawing off the tip is enough to get back to functioning.

Please let us know.  We don't know how long we can hold our breath!

Is it possible that some piano mover put the wrong screws (longer) in the side legs and screwed the keyframe to the keybed? I have seen this several times over the years.

Often there is an oversized lyre screw replacement that penetrates the action.  If you can swivel or pivot the action around a short arc you might even figure out which screw is the culpret.

Usually the screw only protrudes a short distance into the action and sawing off the tip is enough to get back to functioning.

Please let us know.  We don't know how long we can hold our breath!

Is it possible that some piano mover put the wrong screws (longer) in the side legs and screwed the keyframe to the keybed? I have seen this several times over the years.

Often there is an oversized lyre screw replacement that penetrates the action.  If you can swivel or pivot the action around a short arc you might even figure out which screw is the culpret.

Usually the screw only protrudes a short distance into the action and sawing off the tip is enough to get back to functioning.

Please let us know.  We don't know how long we can hold our breath!

Is it possible that some piano mover put the wrong screws (longer) in the side legs and screwed the keyframe to the keybed? I have seen this several times over the years.

Often there is an oversized lyre screw replacement that penetrates the action.  If you can swivel or pivot the action around a short arc you might even figure out which screw is the culpret.

Usually the screw only protrudes a short distance into the action and sawing off the tip is enough to get back to functioning.

Would this piano be a former player?  Was the trapwork modified at some point?  Is there a slot or holes in the keybed where plungers were formerly installed?  If so, you will need to remove the pedals/lyre.  With a flashlight, look up into the action cavity and you'll find a block of wood with some screws holding it in place.  Remove the screws and the wood block.  Then the action will come out.

Please let us know.  We don't know how long we can hold our breath!

Is it possible that some piano mover put the wrong screws (longer) in the side legs and screwed the keyframe to the keybed? I have seen this several times over the years.

Often there is an oversized lyre screw replacement that penetrates the action.  If you can swivel or pivot the action around a short arc you might even figure out which screw is the culpret.

Usually the screw only protrudes a short distance into the action and sawing off the tip is enough to get back to functioning.

Does the action shift. Can you use a thin blade to lift the front rail to find out where it is attached.

Would this piano be a former player?  Was the trapwork modified at some point?  Is there a slot or holes in the keybed where plungers were formerly installed?  If so, you will need to remove the pedals/lyre.  With a flashlight, look up into the action cavity and you'll find a block of wood with some screws holding it in place.  Remove the screws and the wood block.  Then the action will come out.

Please let us know.  We don't know how long we can hold our breath!

Is it possible that some piano mover put the wrong screws (longer) in the side legs and screwed the keyframe to the keybed? I have seen this several times over the years.

Often there is an oversized lyre screw replacement that penetrates the action.  If you can swivel or pivot the action around a short arc you might even figure out which screw is the culpret.

Usually the screw only protrudes a short distance into the action and sawing off the tip is enough to get back to functioning.

Would this piano be a former player?  Was the trapwork modified at some point?  Is there a slot or holes in the keybed where plungers were formerly installed?  If so, you will need to remove the pedals/lyre.  With a flashlight, look up into the action cavity and you'll find a block of wood with some screws holding it in place.  Remove the screws and the wood block.  Then the action will come out.

Please let us know.  We don't know how long we can hold our breath!

Is it possible that some piano mover put the wrong screws (longer) in the side legs and screwed the keyframe to the keybed? I have seen this several times over the years.

Often there is an oversized lyre screw replacement that penetrates the action.  If you can swivel or pivot the action around a short arc you might even figure out which screw is the culpret.

Usually the screw only protrudes a short distance into the action and sawing off the tip is enough to get back to functioning.

The purpose of the block of wood as I mentioned is to provide a new contact point for the unacorda lever.  The lever had to be moved because of the plungers and pneumatic actuators.  If I'm correct, this block will be visible in a large cutout which may or may not be visible with the lyre attached.  If you remove the lyre and find this large cutout, shine a flashlight up in there and you'll see this block attached with screws to the underside of the keyframe.  That's what's preventing the action from coming out.  I had a Knabe with a player that had this arrangement, as well as a Weber and another player that I recently serviced.  The block looked identical in each case, and the same type of screws.

If it's not a player, see if you can remove the unacorda lever.  That may be what's preventing the action from coming out.  In any case, if the action seems to be moving out a little, but not all the way, I'm quite sure there's this block in there that you need to remove.

Would this piano be a former player?  Was the trapwork modified at some point?  Is there a slot or holes in the keybed where plungers were formerly installed?  If so, you will need to remove the pedals/lyre.  With a flashlight, look up into the action cavity and you'll find a block of wood with some screws holding it in place.  Remove the screws and the wood block.  Then the action will come out.

Please let us know.  We don't know how long we can hold our breath!

Is it possible that some piano mover put the wrong screws (longer) in the side legs and screwed the keyframe to the keybed? I have seen this several times over the years.

Often there is an oversized lyre screw replacement that penetrates the action.  If you can swivel or pivot the action around a short arc you might even figure out which screw is the culpret.

Usually the screw only protrudes a short distance into the action and sawing off the tip is enough to get back to functioning.

Please let us know.  We don't know how long we can hold our breath!

Is it possible that some piano mover put the wrong screws (longer) in the side legs and screwed the keyframe to the keybed? I have seen this several times over the years.

Often there is an oversized lyre screw replacement that penetrates the action.  If you can swivel or pivot the action around a short arc you might even figure out which screw is the culpret.

Usually the screw only protrudes a short distance into the action and sawing off the tip is enough to get back to functioning.

Take some good pictures with good lighting into the action cavity check under the keybed for any screws past the lyre that are countersunk. Look straight down from above the strings to see if there are screws going down through the keyframe . Get a thin strip of metal or take the end off  tape measure insert it under the front rail and above the keybed and move it around to see if it hits a screw. If the piano has una chorda left or right shift lever it could be hanging up on the slot/action rail. If none of these things work fuhgetaboutit

Please let us know.  We don't know how long we can hold our breath!

Is it possible that some piano mover put the wrong screws (longer) in the side legs and screwed the keyframe to the keybed? I have seen this several times over the years.

Often there is an oversized lyre screw replacement that penetrates the action.  If you can swivel or pivot the action around a short arc you might even figure out which screw is the culpret.

Usually the screw only protrudes a short distance into the action and sawing off the tip is enough to get back to functioning.

Take some good pictures with good lighting into the action cavity check under the keybed for any screws past the lyre that are countersunk. Look straight down from above the strings to see if there are screws going down through the keyframe . Get a thin strip of metal or take the end off  tape measure insert it under the front rail and above the keybed and move it around to see if it hits a screw. If the piano has una chorda left or right shift lever it could be hanging up on the slot/action rail. If none of these things work fuhgetaboutit

Please let us know.  We don't know how long we can hold our breath!

Is it possible that some piano mover put the wrong screws (longer) in the side legs and screwed the keyframe to the keybed? I have seen this several times over the years.

Often there is an oversized lyre screw replacement that penetrates the action.  If you can swivel or pivot the action around a short arc you might even figure out which screw is the culpret.

Usually the screw only protrudes a short distance into the action and sawing off the tip is enough to get back to functioning.

Please let us know.  We don't know how long we can hold our breath!

Is it possible that some piano mover put the wrong screws (longer) in the side legs and screwed the keyframe to the keybed? I have seen this several times over the years.

Often there is an oversized lyre screw replacement that penetrates the action.  If you can swivel or pivot the action around a short arc you might even figure out which screw is the culpret.

Usually the screw only protrudes a short distance into the action and sawing off the tip is enough to get back to functioning.

Please let us know.  We don't know how long we can hold our breath!

Is it possible that some piano mover put the wrong screws (longer) in the side legs and screwed the keyframe to the keybed? I have seen this several times over the years.

Often there is an oversized lyre screw replacement that penetrates the action.  If you can swivel or pivot the action around a short arc you might even figure out which screw is the culpret.

Usually the screw only protrudes a short distance into the action and sawing off the tip is enough to get back to functioning.

In a 19th century Knabe with an open face pinblock, examine the block and plate structure. If the pinblock is twisting down, it may be jamming against the action.

In a 19th century Knabe with an open face pinblock, examine the block and plate structure. If the pinblock is twisting down, it may be jamming against the action.

Some early Bosendorfer actions have to be carefully lifted and pulled out at an angle  (1844)

Some early Bosendorfer actions have to be carefully lifted and pulled out at an angle  (1844)

I had an early 1900's grand where the front rail of the keyframe was screwed to the keybed in 3 or 4 places about an inch behind and below the key slip. Designed to use a tuning lever to unscrew the screws.

Some early Bosendorfer actions have to be carefully lifted and pulled out at an angle  (1844)

Please let us know if you get it freed up. My vote is for the una chorda lever which you can drop from under the piano, the screws mentioned by Tremaine through the key frame. If you can pry up the front rail and get a very thin piece of spring steel like the soundboard cleaning wand you may be able to hit screwsyou can not see. Nancy is also right about spring clips which can have a real clamping grip especially if rusted. 

Do you have a serial number and model number for the Knabe ?

Please let us know if you get it freed up. My vote is for the una chorda lever which you can drop from under the piano, the screws mentioned by Tremaine through the key frame. If you can pry up the front rail and get a very thin piece of spring steel like the soundboard cleaning wand you may be able to hit screwsyou can not see. Nancy is also right about spring clips which can have a real clamping grip especially if rusted. 

Do you have a serial number and model number for the Knabe ?

A client has a Knabe from around 1897 that I'll be working on soon, so I'm definitely interested in your findings.  FYI, on these older model Knabe grands, the serial number is usually printed right under the soundboard decal.  Hope this helps!

Please let us know if you get it freed up. My vote is for the una chorda lever which you can drop from under the piano, the screws mentioned by Tremaine through the key frame. If you can pry up the front rail and get a very thin piece of spring steel like the soundboard cleaning wand you may be able to hit screwsyou can not see. Nancy is also right about spring clips which can have a real clamping grip especially if rusted. 

Do you have a serial number and model number for the Knabe ?