Upright piano 'hammer head felt' stuck to the neighboring hammer after strike

[themaximillyan]

Often, after a long period of inactivity, piano hammers begin to sag. This can cause discomfort while playing, as neighboring keys may require different force to press. Since the top wood panel of an upright piano 'Upper Front board' does not allow us to see what's happening inside, let's examine the problem and find a solution.

Firstly, I must mention that this issue can be easily detected and fixed by anyone. In this video, it's evident that the hammer falls after striking the string but does not fully return to its original position. Why? It has shifted to the left and rubs its head against the neighboring hammer. Us need come back it in right position there or to drive location it lightly to right side there. What should we do?

First, when encountering this problem, ensure that the striking part, the 'felt hammer head' (positioned toward the string), hits the string correctly.

Next, try to shake the hammer from side to side. If you find that the hammer is very loose in its 'hammer flange,' you need to tighten its screw (the screw of the hammer flange) using a standard screwdriver. Carefully insert the screwdriver under the hammer and try to find the screw's slot with the tip of the screwdriver. It's crucial, especially if you are doing this for the first time, to have additional lighting (e.g., a flashlight or lamp) for better visibility. Then, position the hammer head so that the entire working part of 'the hammer head felt' is evenly placed on the bass string. Hold the head of the hammer with your left hand, and with your right hand, rotate the hammer's screw using the screwdriver clockwise. Afterward, the hammer should strike accurately on the bass string and avoid touching the neighboring hammer.

However, there are cases when the hammer is firmly fixed in its 'hammer flange,' but its 'hammer head felt' still "sticks" to the neighboring hammer after striking a bass string. In this situation, you need to take a long screwdriver with a thin tip and insert it between the two 'hammer flanges' of the problematic hammers. Then, very carefully, use the screwdriver to separate them so that their 'hammer head felts' do not touch each other.