Wobbling Hammer Butts

[Ru Drisi]

A friend has a junky old Gerhard upright, "Upright Grand" (yeah right) with
some wobbly hammers in the middle register. The piano really needs to be
put to sleep but the friend that owns it would like to know if I can fix
the one that wobbles so much it occasionally plays a neighbor's strings.

Recommendations?

[Steven Lewis]

There are probably one of three things wrong that is causing the wobblying.
Easiest to hardest to fix:
1. the flange screw could be so loose that it wobbles... easy fix.
2. The center pin has moved over, sometimes so far as to enter the hole of
the flange next to it. A small thin bladed screwdriver can be used to coax
the pin back in place, be sure to hold the hammer in its correct position so
the the pin is lined up to enter the bushing.
3. the bushing hole has become too large or the flange is broken. You'll
have to remove the hammer butt and either replace the pin with a large pin
or replace the butt flange. You know when the "tightness" is just right
when: hold onto the flange and the hammer should "drop", but when holding
the hammer, the flange stays put.

steve

Post by Ru Drisi
A friend has a junky old Gerhard upright, "Upright Grand" (yeah right) with
some wobbly hammers in the middle register. The piano really needs to be
put to sleep but the friend that owns it would like to know if I can fix
the one that wobbles so much it occasionally plays a neighbor's strings.
Recommendations?
--
Respectfully,
Ru Drisi
heartsofmusic.com
It's not jazz but I like it.
- Steve Allen

[Ru Drisi]

Post by Steven Lewis

Post by Ru Drisi
A friend has a junky old Gerhard upright, "Upright Grand" (yeah right) with
some wobbly hammers in the middle register. The piano really needs to be
put to sleep but the friend that owns it would like to know if I can fix
the one that wobbles so much it occasionally plays a neighbor's strings.
Recommendations?

There are probably one of three things wrong that is causing the
1. the flange screw could be so loose that it wobbles... easy fix.
2. The center pin has moved over, sometimes so far as to enter the hole of
the flange next to it. A small thin bladed screwdriver can be used to
coax the pin back in place, be sure to hold the hammer in its correct
position so the the pin is lined up to enter the bushing.
3. the bushing hole has become too large or the flange is broken. You'll
have to remove the hammer butt and either replace the pin with a large pin
or replace the butt flange. You know when the "tightness" is just right
when: hold onto the flange and the hammer should "drop", but when holding
the hammer, the flange stays put.

Thanks. Will check it out.