I am working on a 1961 Wurlitzer spinet. Half of the keys make a wood on wood clacking sound on return. Finally it dawned on me that the abstract rod is being hit by the back check after the key is released. Can anyone suggest a solution ??

Are you a DYIER?

Lighter fluid and a match. And no, I'm not kidding.

It could be the hammer but felt maybe to worn

Regulation.

It is obviously regulation alright. Something as simple as to much lost motion.

Jerry most likely has it right. The simple compression of the backrail felt, under the back of the key, may let the whippen drop down far enough that the parts are making contact. That, and compression of the felt directly above the capstan in the abstract-lifter (...if the action design I'm thinking of). If your whippen and backcheck are moving when you touch the key, and the hammer is NOT moving immediately, then lost-motion adjustment may cure it.

With that age; you may need to regulate the hammer rail forward a tick, keydip, let-off....oh you know...the whole drill...to get it working as nicely as possible.

Quick and dirty? Pray that lifting the capstans and removing lost-motion will cure it! If the hammers are checking into the backchecks too far from the strings, you may be able to just adjust the backchecks forward with a finger and both remove the 'click', and get a better responding action.

Good-Luck!

I am working on all suggestions. Will report back tomorrow.

Reporting back was delayed by a 2 week bout with the Flu. Just got back to Wurlitzer. All of you who suggested "Regulation" were right. As to "Tuner Jeff" it was as if he had inspected the piano before me. All his diagnosis proved spot on.

I pulled the fall board and the keys. Vacuumed whole key bed ahnd felts. Then adjusted the "lost motion" on all 88 and she came back in like she was only 12 years old instead of 60. Thanks a million guys.