I wanted to let Les know that I tryed the tests that he outlined in the
96.01.14 digest. The motor and transmission tested real good so I moved
on to the stack. I tryed it with a roll leader covering all the tracker
bar holes, I could feel the valves seal but it didn't become 100%
airtight. Next I let the roll open up a few note's and I tried again. It
about scared me half to death, I expected to get a little bit of a sound
out of it but instead it blasted out from under the keybed. I never
realized how little vacuum it takes to play a few notes. From there I
tried the last test with all parts together. I didn't have enough power
in me to get it to play even one note. I have always suspected the inside
flap valves in the pump of leaking. I have torn in apart twice to check
them and could not find any real problems.When I would apply vacuum to
the pump with the spring's off the bellows, they would slowly collapse. I
replaced the flap valve with the flap valve leather for sale from player
piano co. Has any one had trouble with this before? Also has anyone ever
cut an access hole in the pump bellows leaf to gain access to the inner
flap valves on a Simplex player, and then made a cover with a leather
gasket to cover it up when done? I don't know if I would ruin it by doing
so. Does any one have any thoughts on this!

                                       Thanks!
                                       Brett Mohr