After a 12-year hiatus the player piano bug has struck me once again.
I have been a reader of the MMD for years and have rebuilt ten or so
players, most with Standard Pneumatic actions, however the last time
I worked on a piano was twelve years ago.  I have been thinking about
getting another piano to tinker but that's as far as it went, just
thinking, until yesterday.  A friend of a friend's mother passed and
the family had to get rid of a piano.  I was told it was going to be
smashed and carried to the trash.

I had to inspect.  I was expecting an old upright with a standard
action but to my dismay I found a "new" Kimball Electramatic.  To make
a long story short, I took home 90 rolls and a bench today and will
pick up the piano on Wednesday, for the grand total of $50.

Now, the piano plays -- not very snappy, but it plays.  I am assuming
a major vacuum leak somewhere.  From the quick look I had today, the
cloth on the pneumatics is soft and everything is clean as a whistle.
I am suspecting maybe the valves where they connect to the pneumatics;
we shall see.  At any rate, it needs to be tuned and of course and
I have some questions I would like to post.

I am dying to get the piano home and probably can answer all of these
questions myself but I am impatient right now!

1. What is the procedure for removing the stack?

2. Does the stack need to be removed for tuning?

3. Does the spool box need to be removed for tuning?

4. Common areas to find vacuum leaks?

Any interesting tidbits would be appreciated.

Thanks for the help.
Dave Lagatta
lagattadj@aol.com.geentroep  or  deltaroc@aol.com.geentroep
[delete ".geentroep" to reply]