I need help diagnosing a problem with a Standard double valve 3-tier
stack.  This is my first attempt and as a guide I used Arthur Reblitz
book "Player Piano Servicing and Rebuilding.  I know many of you are
wondering what this new guy used in the rebuild and with the current
discussion going on I would like to inform you that I used Animal Hide
Glue to glue all cloth, valve leather, and gasket leather.  I also used
this glue to secure the pneumatics back to their decks and to join any
wood to wood, wood to felt or wood to leather junction that might need to
be replaced at a later time.

I purchased orange shellac flakes and made my own burnt shellac compound
to use as an adhesive and sealer on and around most all wood to metal
connections.  I used powdered graphite mixed with denatured alcohol to
lubricate all friction surfaces except those on the metal to metal
friction points on the transmission  here I used 3-N-1 oil.  To reseal
the valve wells and channels I used shellac.  I am serious about doin' it
right.  I am not a "garden hose" patcher upper.  If it leaves my workshop
I want it to be  perfect.  I am open to suggestions on how our techniques
can be improved upon and I am willing to use other materials if they are
proven to work and last for years until then my philosophy is it's the
old way or no way.

For the past few days I have run into a puzzling problem.  Two pneumatics
in the lower section will not function properly under normal vacuum.  The
two notes in music theory language is Great A and B in other terms it is
the second A and B below middle C.  I realize the placement on the
keyboard may not have anything to do with whether the pneumatic system
works or not, but I wanted to give the reference just in case it did.

Here is the history of what I have done.  As I finished the primary and
secondary valve assembles and the pneumatic assembly they  were tested.
As individual units everything seemed to be in perfect working order and
everything was repeating well.  When assembled everything worked
perfectly except these two pneumatics.  I immediately suspected the "L"
channel board, the tracker bar and tubing, and all screws located around
these channels.  I disassembled and found all to be clear and free of
obstructions.  I reassembled to do a few more test and found that on very
low vacuum the two pneumatic in question will collapse and repeat.

Now I turned my attention to the bleeds.  All bleeds in question were
again removed and inspected for obstruction or damage.  Nothing was
found.  I played with the bleed size by removing the bleeds in the
primary and used card stock with different size pin holes.  I could not
get the pneumatics to operate properly.  I have also tested both pouches
in the primary and the secondary and could not locate a problem.  I know
the pneumatics are not the problem because I would be able to here the
rush of air but there is no rush of air.

The problem is in the vale system somewhere.  When connected together the
primary valves work great and appear to have the proper travel, but the
secondary valves will not turn on.  I  need your help.  I want to sell
this piano it is a Lyon and Healy "Washburn" in mahogany and it is
beautiful, but I can not sell something until I know it is perfect.  I am
confident with your suggestions this problem will be resolved.  No
suggestion is too small and all will be tried.

Sam Harris
3742 Old Creek Road
Greenville, NC.  27834
Day 1-919-752-4179 Night 1-919-758-6944
Musicman125@juno.com