Stuck Key - what do I do?

[Bill]

Hello,

We have a piano with a stuck key. I'm mechanically inclined but I don't know
piano terminology. The part that strikes the 3 strings will not go all the
way back after striking. If rubs against the striker to the right and hangs
up. It's labeled "53" and I'm told it's C#, if that helps. I can't bend it
because it's a glued wood assembly and it just flexes.

What should I do?

Thanks,

Bill N.

Cincinnati, OH USA

[Tracy Viles]

I am not a piano tech, but go to the library and get a book, it helped me
with my old piano.
Some websites for piano parts show diagrams from this book I am talking
about.
http://www.vandaking.com/us-shop/index.html

Post by Bill
Hello,
We have a piano with a stuck key. I'm mechanically inclined but I don't know
piano terminology. The part that strikes the 3 strings will not go all the
way back after striking. If rubs against the striker to the right and hangs
up. It's labeled "53" and I'm told it's C#, if that helps. I can't bend it
because it's a glued wood assembly and it just flexes.
What should I do?
Thanks,
Bill N.
Cincinnati, OH USA

[ragtimebill]

Well, Bill, you can try this: The striker is called a hammer and the
stem it is on is a hammer shank. The shank is glued into the hammer
butt which in turn is fastened to the hammer rail through the hammer
flange (containing the pivot point). Now, the screw that fastens the
flange to the rail can be backed out slightly and tightened again once
the flange has been repositioned so that the hammers are no longer
interfering with each other. A large percentage of the time there is
enough slop in the flange attachment to accomplish this. However, if
there is not, we technicians are prepared to bend the shank using heat
(from a heat gun or a special pair of pliers supplied with heat).
Extreme cases may require replacement of parts.

As you can see, the first solution can be applied by a talented
amateur, the others probably require a technician. Good luck!

-Bill Rowland
Broken Arrow, OK

Post by Bill
Hello,
We have a piano with a stuck key. I'm mechanically inclined but I don't know
piano terminology. The part that strikes the 3 strings will not go all the
way back after striking. If rubs against the striker to the right and hangs
up. It's labeled "53" and I'm told it's C#, if that helps. I can't bend it
because it's a glued wood assembly and it just flexes.
What should I do?
Thanks,
Bill N.
Cincinnati, OH USA