Sluggish or sticking notes on an upright piano action - Key Easing
The action of a piano is a complex mechanism developed over hundreds of years and brought to near perfection in the very early part of the twentieth century. At that time, pianos were extremely popular and hundreds of thousands were manufactured, especially in Europe and North America.
Adjusting and repairing the action (mechanism) requires some knowledge and skill. The advice is generally, “leave it to the experts” .This is sound advice, and should be followed, UNLESS you are an intrepid, bold person, not easily deflected, and having much patience and determination. After all, one has to start somewhere.
If you are this person, my piano articles are for you.
Identifying the problem.
Open the top lid and take off the front board. There are two clips or turn-buttons left and right.Store the board on is end up against a wall. Pianos vary The key cover properly called ”the fall” maybe attached to the front board making it a bit heavy and akward to remove. Mainly it is a separate piece. Take this off and also the key keeper rail. That maybe screwed on, though not always.
Play some notes and see what moves. Find the sticking note(s).
Observation.
The hammer may not fall back against the rail or be quite slow.
Try gently but fairly quickly pushing up the lever (american whippen)
Does the hammer hit the string and fall back just a little?
When you take away your finger does the hammer and mechanism drop quickly into place?
If it does, then the chances are that the key itself is binding or sticking.
You will need a few tools.
If not a link will be here for the next process, currently being written.
Lift the lever again and whilst keeping it raised, press the key down and release several times - is it completely free?
If not you can ease the key up off the centre rail pin.
Assuming there are no foreign objects about –hairgrips, coins etc. the centre bushing or the front bushing needs easing.
Here you will need a special tool; the key easing pliers.
Gentle squeeze the pliers to compress the bushing felt, you need to do both sides. Re fit the key and, lifiting the jack, press the key a few times to see if it now moves freely, if it is still binding repeat the process with the easing pliers.