I've found, the suction box motors used in modern Aeolian player
pianos are smaller and less powerful than Player Piano Co. (PPCo)
motors.  In one instance I was able to get a modern Aeolian playing
"well" with the PPCo box, where it barely moved the keys with its
original.  That was with the Aeolian "choker" valve pinned wide open.
When new, these modern Aeolians (for all their shortcomings) were
_very_ compact and airtight and the original suction motor was more
than powerful enough.

I called Grainger and spoke to their engineer.  He gave me the
stock number for a suction box motor he thought was similar as PPCo's.
I was thinking I could try to put this motor inside Aeolian's box for
my customers who don't want to pay to solve the real problems. That
should "get them through" for another five or possibly up to ten years
maybe.  I haven't tried it out yet.  The cost for the motor from
Grainger was $90.

The bellows cloth gets leaky and those Neoprene valves dry up and
even deform and shrink a little but the biggest source of the problem
(I've found) is usually the pneumatics.  I'll check the valves (they
probably all leak a little bit) but, as long as that leakage is not
too bad, I just recover the pneumatics and they've played well --
easy to pedal.  I liked D.L. Bullock's idea of opening the top of the
unit valves and changing only the valves because the pouches are still
good.

Now, if only we could get someone to sell us _just_ the valve, not
the whole unit.  I can't pay 20+ a shot and change 80 unit valves along
with doing the pneumatics.  The economic realities won't allow it in
most cases.  When my customers are seniors with limited money to spend
(not a BS story), I just seal the feeder bellows and reservoir cloth;
the cotton mesh is still strong.

I think hobbyists and "elite rebuilders" need to understand the
realities many of us face with the general public are different than
true enthusiasts in AMICA and on MMD.  In most cases, "the general
player piano owning public" don't want, notice or appreciate
perfection -- they are not willing or able to pay for perfection and
they own what most enthusiasts would consider "bottom feeder" pianos.

_However, the customer needs to understand the player could possibly
need more major work 5-10 years down the road._

Sometimes they tell me, "Who cares?  I won't live that long."  They
like the piano too much to get rid of it.  It's sentimental to them,
they like to occasionally play it.  It makes them really happy when it
plays well again and they are appreciative.  This type of work _can_
be rewarding.  Sorry for rambling too much.

Bill Maguire