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MMD > Archives > December 2011 > 2011.12.25 > 02Prev  Next


Rebuilding a Player Piano Air Motor System
By Randolph Herr

Hi Clinton: The first thing to do is remove the governor and make
notes on how things are connected.  All governors have two air paths:

(1) The first path air is pulled through the "governor" or "regulator",
which is usually a slide valve to limit how much air can flow through
it.  This governing keeps the wind motor going at the same speed
whether or not there is high vacuum in the reservoir from fast pumping
of the pedals, or whether there is low vacuum in the reservoir.

Also,  there will be a slide valve that uncovers a strangely shaped
port.  This is where any particular Tempo is set by the flow of air
through the hole.  Therefore, when you set the speed to Tempo 85, there
is enough air to move the paper at 8.5 feet per minute.

(2) The second air path simply bypasses all the governing and makes the
wind motor turn fast on reroll.

Once you know what mode the governor is in (play or reroll), depending
on the setting of the control rods, you will be able to check both air
paths and then you will know more about the problem.

Randolph Herr


(Message sent Sun 25 Dec 2011, 22:53:14 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Air, Motor, Piano, Player, Rebuilding, System

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