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Disklavier

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Bobbling Hammers

Bobbling Hammers

2002-09-14 by Bing Gibbs

I thought that I would bring up this problem to see if there are any Piano
Techs that might know if the problem can be resolved.  I'm a Player Piano
Technician in Cupertino, CA.  I am not a Disklavier Tech, though.  I have a
friend who has an Upright Disklavier, piano model MX1OOIIXG, SN:  5561818.
I has very bad bobbling hammers right in the middle octave area of the
keyboard.  When played manually, there is absolutely no problem.  Everything
is regulated perfectly.  But the player action really has a problem.  The
local Disklavier Tech said there isn't much you can do about it and the
Yamaha Tech Support said almost the same thing.  It appears that the
solenoid is not going through it's complete motion to allow the hammer to
check properly.  This problem still occurred after the rubber tips had been
replaced in that area of the keyboard.  Are the heights of the solenoids
adjustable to eliminate this problem?



-- 
Player Piano Forte
Bing Gibbs
10530 Barnhart Ct.
Cupertino, CA 95014
408-253-1866
binggib@...

Re: [disklavier] Bobbling Hammers

2002-09-15 by Carol Beigel

I own the identical DKV - even serial # starting with the same three digits. 
  I don't think the problem is in the solenoid stroke.  There are a few 
things I would check on the Disklavier first, though just to be sure it is 
adjusted properly.  Make sure the DKV is running v1.44 - maybe reinstall the 
software to be sure.  Make sure the DKV thinks it is an upright instead of a 
grand piano.  Run all the Maintenance mode stuff - pedals and keyboard 
adjusment. Check the ppp adjustment for each key, and make sure it is high 
enough - in the range of 20 something.

Then, thoroughly check the piano.  Even though you think the piano action 
plays fine, there is an obvious problem.  As you know, many upright pianos 
can have bobbling hammers when played softly - so make sure the Soft pedal 
is not constantly on, or the volume control is not stuck to -4 or lower.

Check the key height.  Sometimes key beds sag in the middle.  That would 
certainly cause this problem.

The capstan adjustment can have NO lost motion.  Maybe remove some paper 
front rail punchings to increase the keystroke on the problem keys.  You may 
have to set the backchecks closer on the problem area. (I think I had to do 
that on my piano, too!)

If you have to do ANY physical adjustments to the piano, you must run the 
Keyboard Measurement again in the Maintenance Mode.

Just for grins, if all else fails and you really think the solenoid rail is 
too low, temporarily glue some thin felt to the bottom of some of the 
problem keys and see if the problem goes away.  That rail is adjustable, but 
that is the last place I would look.

Carol Beigel
crbrpt@...


>From: Bing Gibbs <binggib@...>
>Reply-To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
>To: disklavier@...
>Subject: [disklavier] Bobbling Hammers
>Date: Sat, 14 Sep 2002 12:41:21 -0700
>
>I thought that I would bring up this problem to see if there are any Piano
>Techs that might know if the problem can be resolved.  I'm a Player Piano
>Technician in Cupertino, CA.  I am not a Disklavier Tech, though.  I have a
>friend who has an Upright Disklavier, piano model MX1OOIIXG, SN:  5561818.
>I has very bad bobbling hammers right in the middle octave area of the
>keyboard.  When played manually, there is absolutely no problem.  
>Everything
>is regulated perfectly.  But the player action really has a problem.  The
>local Disklavier Tech said there isn't much you can do about it and the
>Yamaha Tech Support said almost the same thing.  It appears that the
>solenoid is not going through it's complete motion to allow the hammer to
>check properly.  This problem still occurred after the rubber tips had been
>replaced in that area of the keyboard.  Are the heights of the solenoids
>adjustable to eliminate this problem?
>
>
>
>--
>Player Piano Forte
>Bing Gibbs
>10530 Barnhart Ct.
>Cupertino, CA 95014
>408-253-1866
>binggib@...
>





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