Keys sticking to front

[JanustheManus]

Hello all,

Today I purchased a custom 1977 Rhodes stage from James Garfield of the Fender Rhodes Supersite.

When I play slot of the white keys in the mid range, they stick and I have to push them back up.

Is there a way to fix this?

Thank you!

[JanustheManus]

This didn't happen at his house.
It could've happened in transport.

[pianotuner steveo]

Patrick,
They are rubbing in the front. The tolex may have come loose, or the key frame may have come loose and slid forward. Likely an easy fix, but you need to take at least some of those keys out and see what is happening. Remove the top, then the name rail, then the keys will lift out.

[JanustheManus]

Thank you!

Yes the key bed most likely shifted in transport. I will take a look at the key situation.
Otherwise this is the best Rhodes I've played!

[pianotuner steveo]

That is always possible, but I am leaning towards the tolex peeling and curling up against the key fronts. Let us know what you find....

[JanustheManus]

Later today I'm going to buy an exacto blade and cut the Tolex where it needs to be cut.

[pianotuner steveo]

Did you look inside first?

Always double check before spending money....

Also, it may be better to glue it down with contact cement if that is the problem. (Remove all keys in the area of you are dong this)

[JanustheManus]

I haven't yet cut any tolex but I did move the keybed back so that the keys weren't hitting the front anymore. The Rhodes really can't move anywhere because nothing is screwed in. James told me when he put the screws back in the keys went right to the front. The Rhodes is not going anywhere any time soon, so this "ghetto" solution worked fine.

Thank you pianotuner steveo

[pianotuner steveo]

That is odd. Does it play well? I was leaning towards the tolex because it didn't look like all of the white keys, just the middle of the keyboard.

[JanustheManus]

Yes, all of the keys play just like they're supposed to. There's an Eb that rings freely (but that's a separate issue). Again, nothing is screwed in, so the Rhodes really can't go anywhere. When unscrewing the underside, the rear keybed screws were bent and warped. James also included a few kits, so I might look into that.

James did replace the original keybed with a 1976 keybed; and the measurements could have been off enough where the holes lined up, but the new keybed was more forward than the original.

[pnoboy]

I have a '78 Rhodes, and when I got it, a couple of keys stuck a bit.  It was caused by Tolex that had come loose.  I would advise you to check for this situation.  The good thing about this condition is that it is so quick and cheap to fix.  The worst way to fix it would be to cut the Tolex back.  Don't do it!  The right way is to glue it back.  ...couldn't be easier.

[Tim Hodges]

The right way is to glue it back.

And use one of those heavy duty staplers to keep it in place.

[JanustheManus]

Thank you guys!

Any specific type of glue or just general Gorilla Glue?

[JanustheManus]

I am also wondering if the bent screws could be a culprit too? They might push the key bed forward???

[pianotuner steveo]

Never use Goriila glue for tolex. It expands and can cause the problem to happen again. Always use contact cement on tolex, as I mentioned before. It sounds like the bent screws can be a factor since you stated that the whole key frame is out of alignment.

[JanustheManus]

Alright. I will find some contact cement and some replacement screws as well. Hopefully the new screws will screw in well and key the key bed away from the front

[AvionKeys]

Just a quick note: if the screws holding the action in the enclosure were bent it's likely it took quite a knock because that would require a good bit of force.

So I would inspect for additional damage. A standard #8 x 1 1/2" stainless sheet metal screw should match the thread nicely. The incumbent screws are a "raised countersink" head which are harder to find. But if you're alright with a flat countersink head they are widely available and quite inexpensive.

[sean]

If the keybed was swapped in from another piano, there is the obvious possibility that the mounting screws don't perfectly line up with the holes in the piano cabinet.  It would be a simple operation to drill new mounting holes from the underside of the piano.  Just remove a few keys so they don't get caught by the drillbit. 

Experiment a bit to get the keybed in the perfect location, clamp it down with a pair of big c-clamps over the front lip of the cabinet, and then put on your miner's headlamp to crawl under the piano with your drill.

Sean

[JanustheManus]

Thank you AvionKeys and Sean,

This seems to be a bit much to tackle as of right now, but I can definitely do this stuff in the long term.

[RickyTerzis]

Hi...i am a new user here. I think you should never use Goriila glue for tolex. It expands and can cause the problem to happen again. Always use contact cement on tolex. It sounds like the bent screws can be a factor since you stated that the whole key frame is out of alignment.

prototype pcb assembly services

[JanustheManus]

Welcome! Yes I will never use gorilla glue. James suggested taking anything I don't feel confident in fixing to Matt Cunitz in SF. I just don't want to do the irreversible.

[pianotuner steveo]

Hmmmm....that entire post ( re: gorilla glue)  sounds familiar....

[JanustheManus]

Thank you everyone for your information and input!