Very Hard Ankles

In the case of excessively tight tuning pins, sometimes rotating them alternately clockwise and counterclockwise several times can loosen them sufficiently. In other cases, loosening the pin enough to remove the string, unscrewing it several turns, reinserting it, and then reattaching the string can solve the problem. If the pin is still too stiff, it is advisable to remove it and ream the hole with an appropriately sized spoon bit.

Tuning a piano after 10 years with 80% humidity is not exactly a "walk in the park"; did you manage to stabilize the tuning fork at 440?

It was at 435 so I left it that way.

If a string breaks during tuning, it is not very easy for me to find one and I don't have much time available either.

It is anyway a pf [piano forte] for the study of two girls who play violin and bass.

Then in the future if they want it at 440, we will see.

I wonder if the humidity has swollen the soundboard wood or if the hitch pin has rusted!? Could it be that the string has lost its elasticity?

But can a hitch pin really break... like happens with rusted screws??

It would be useful to go deeper, what happened to you is very interesting Sergio.

Lorenzo

You can try with heat. Place an iron on the ankles to warm them up. They should improve. If an ankle were to break, an extractor is needed: a sort of screw with reverse threading that "captures the ankle and turns it, extracting it."

Thanks Pianoexpert, Pianoaccordatore for the answers: the experts' advice is precious!

lorenzo wrote:

I wonder if the humidity has swollen the soundboard wood or if the tuning pin has rusted!? Could it be that the string has lost its elasticity?

But can a tuning pin really break... like happens with rusted screws??

It would be useful to look into this further, what happened to you is very interesting Sergio.

Lorenzo

Yes, the humidity and the rare tunings have certainly contributed a bit to hardening it, or perhaps I am too afraid of turning the key so hard!

Afraid of breaking the pin near the hole where the string passes; after all, I tune out of passion and not for work, always trying to avoid causing damage.

If the pin should break inside the soundboard, is it possible to tap it with an awl to make it come out from the opposite side?

. . . . generally an ankle breaks outside of the soundboard and therefore it is possible to extract it with a specific extractor tool.

if a pin breaks at the plate level in a grand piano where the pin holes run through the entire soundboard, it can be pushed out through the bottom with a pin punch of the appropriate size.

This operation must be carried out with caution and by supporting the soundboard with a support jack located very close to the hole.

if a pin breaks at the plate level in an upright piano, it might be possible to drill a larger hole through the back of the piano, behind the pin, and then tap it into the hole.