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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7
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OP
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A few of my hammers in the piano do not return fully. They hit the string fine on the first few hits but do not return to their starting position afterwards. The hammers are not resting against the string.
When the key is lightly pressed, the hammers do not move, but if they are pressed fast and hard, they do strike the string and make the note. Also when pressing the key, it feels very light unless it is pressed fully.
If left for a few hours, the hammers do go back to their starting position. And then the proccess repeats.
Could you please tell me what is going wrong?
Many Thanks
Weamy
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 32,060
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
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Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jun 2003
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How old is the piano? Grand or upright?
Semipro Tech
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We got the piano from someone else. But it's more than 20 years old. It's been working fine untill the last few months
It's an upright piano.
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 824
500 Post Club Member
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500 Post Club Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 824 |
Most likely cause is tight centres. A job for a tech!
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Joined: Apr 2016
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OP
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Would tight centres affect the hammers?
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 864
500 Post Club Member
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500 Post Club Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 864 |
Yes -- the centers are the pivot points for the hammers, which are basically levers with big heads on their ends -- so if the centers are tight, the hammers won't move freely, as you have observed --
Dorrie Bell
retired piano technician
Boston, MA
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(Just in case this is a DIYer)
Whatever you do, don't use WD40!
Adam Schulte-Bukowinski, RPT Piano Technician, University of Nebraska-Lincoln ASB Piano Service
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Joined: Dec 2012
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6000 Post Club Member
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Great advice above. Lets hope the previous DIY didn't already apply WD-40 to the action centers,
In a seemingly infinite universe-infinite human creativity is-seemingly possible.
According to NASA, 93% of the earth like planets possible in the known universe have yet to be formed.
Contact: toneman1@me.com
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Joined: Apr 2016
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OP
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Thanks for the advice! But I think I'll just call a tech. Much more safer. And will not use WD40. 
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 864
500 Post Club Member
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500 Post Club Member
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Great! And let's hope that the previous owner had that approach as well. Let us know how it all goes.
Dorrie Bell
retired piano technician
Boston, MA
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Joined: Apr 2016
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On second thoughts, how would one DIY it?
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 864
500 Post Club Member
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500 Post Club Member
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Never mind. Or, looking at it another way, take a course of study, do an apprenticeship, join whatever the UK equivalent of the Piano Technicians Guild is and take advantage of their educational opportunities -- the insides of a piano are complex and hyper-responsive, and mucking around in them without specialized training is unwise. I liked your previous approach, where you called the tech, as being safer for you and for your piano.
Dorrie Bell
retired piano technician
Boston, MA
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,157
3000 Post Club Member
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3000 Post Club Member
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Was this the Geyer 130 model? I see that production moved from Germany to China.
Ian
I'm all keyed up
2016 Blüthner Model A
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I don't know. I don't know how I would check either.
All I know is that it's a Geyer.
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 323
Full Member
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Full Member
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On second thoughts, how would one DIY it? With a product called "Protek." http://www.amazon.com/Protek-1406-Cleaner-Protectant-Bottle/dp/B007O3SNO6
Don, playing the blues in Austin, Texas on a 48" family heirloom Steinway upright, 100 year old, Starr, ca. 100 years old full size upright, Yamaha U30. Yamaha electric.
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 11
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
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Is protek proven to last for a long time? Or is it just a quick fix for short term? I generally ream the 'wedge' (not sure about the english name) and place a new centre pin.
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