I am trying to do some regulating and refurbishing on a Broadwood upright (46") 1906 vintage. The action is different to anything I have worked on and I believe it is the Swander type. In any case, there are little springs everywhere. Many of the butt springs are broken of with the end embedded in the butt. I purchased some butt springs from Schaff but am stymied as to how to install them. Is it possible to remove the broken end of the old spring and if so how? Or do I try to drill a hole for the new butt spring as close to the old one as possible?
The next problem is trying to regulate hammer travel ie., papering one side of the flange. On this piano there is another spring at the base of the jack that catches a thread from the hammer through a slot in the jack. It is very easy to release the thread to remove the hammer butt but devilishly difficult to reattach it once the hammer butt is back on the rail. Anybody had experience with this little doozy? I have removed a number of hammer butts and the best I have been able to achieve was 25 minutes to re-install with alot of talking to the piano and myself. At this rate I could spend the better part of the spring playing with springs and threads.
thanks for any advice,
Charlie Grey

Hi Charley , sounds like a spring and loop action. You can fashion a couple of tools from some heavy gauge piano wire about 4 inches long and bend the end over into an L shape , on one of them put a little dent in the L . With this one push the spring forward and the other one gently coax the loop down over the spring and release the tension when in place . Using these simple tools and a bit of practise it shouldn't take long. Broadwood used to make most of there own actions . They have a very good website if you are interested.
John Brereton

Hi Charley , sounds like a spring and loop action. You can fashion a couple of tools from some heavy gauge piano wire about 4 inches long and bend the end over into an L shape , on one of them put a little dent in the L . With this one push the spring forward and the other one gently coax the loop down over the spring and release the tension when in place . Using these simple tools and a bit of practise it shouldn't take long. Broadwood used to make most of there own actions . They have a very good website if you are interested.
John Brereton