Announcement: Spring Fundraising Drive In Progress

Please visit our home page to see this and other announcements: https://www.mmdigest.com     Thank you. — Jody

MMD > Archives > July 2004 > 2004.07.05 > 13Prev  Next


Amphion Automatic Tracker System & Clogged Bleeds
By John A. Tuttle

Hi All,  This posting is in regards to the question about accessing the
bleeds in the Amphion Tracking mechanism without opening the bellows.
According to the Amphion Service Manual, "Each side or section of this
pneumatic is connected through small internal orifices to a single
supply tube, which is connected to one of the decks of the action."

Since bleeds that get clogged with paper dust are a constant problem in
most player pianos, I've come to rely on two "tools" to get them
'unclogged'.  One is the simple trackerbar pump.  As I've stated
before, a properly working trackerbar pump can easily produce in excess
of 200 inches of water vacuum.

The second "tool" is my mouth.  Armed with a suck tube, that starts
with 3/4" tubing (at the mouth end) and ends with 9/64" tubing at the
other end, I 'suck and blow' until the debris is dislodged.  Naturally,
I end up with a mouth full of paper dust -- which I imagine most people
would find disgusting -- but who, as a child, hasn't eaten paper (spit
balls) or gotten dirt in their mouth (sliding into home base)... ??

Bleeding trackers, like the Amphion system, rely on three things:
a constant vacuum source, 100% air-tight bellows, and clean bleeds.
Surprisingly, the most common problem is not clogged bleeds but rather,
slightly leaking bellows.  If the tracker is sluggish, or slow to
react, them I would suspect clogged bleeds.  On the other hand, a
'permanent' imbalance points to a leaking bellow.

Musically,
John A Tuttle
Player-Care.com
Brick, New Jersey, USA



(Message sent Mon, 05 Jul 2004 11:49:50 -0400 , from time zone -0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Amphion, Automatic, Bleeds, Clogged, System, Tracker

Related by Subject:
2004.07.05.13 (This article) - Amphion Automatic Tracker System & Clogged Bleeds
2025.07.15.01 - Amphion Company Purchased by American Piano Co.
from Julian Dyer
2021.04.23.03 - Amphion Upside-down Unit Valves
from Jeff Bridges
2021.04.20.02 - Seek Early Amphion Upside-down Unit Valves
from Bill Chapman
2021.04.16.01 - Seek Early Amphion Upside-down Unit Valves
from Andrew Thomson
2021.03.22.01 - Amphion Player Piano Company Ownership
from Burnley Cook
2021.03.20.03 - Seek Amphion Upside-down Unit Valves
from Kermit Hobbs
2021.02.12.07 - Seek Ampico and Amphion Upright Take-up Spools
from James Williams
2020.12.18.05 - Seek Ampico and Amphion Upright Take-up Spools
from James Williams
2019.02.14.02 - Seek PPCo Amphion Valve Replacement Set
from John Ravert, Sr.
2018.06.20.05 - Seek Amphion Upside-down Valves With Bleed Holes
from Stephen Buco
2016.08.09.02 - Seek Amphion Upside-down Unit Valves
from David Opppenheim

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation
No PayPal account required

 

SSL Certificate
by
Let's Encrypt