[James B]

Hi Melodicaworld!

New to Melodicas and to Melodica World. I have a used Piano 36 with 3 keys that have an issue, all next to each other. One key depresses and doesn’t come back up. Another that seems ok otherwise but, wiggles around when touching it. A third that depresses and comes back up but, stays at rest about a bit higher than all the other keys and it wiggles around also.

I took all the screws out of the bottom and was able to pull the bottom panel off but, not sure where to go from here in dismantling. I’m guessing the keys need to be reset to resolve some of the issues with a couple of them but, not sure how to break it down to get to the keys to do so.

Any advise on what might be wrong with each of the keys and how to break it down farther than just the bottom cover off?

I’d include a photo or two but, don’t see a way to add any. Thanks for any advise or help!

James

[Lamar]

Hi, James – from where you are, you should be able to see the felts and flat metal actuators that come from the keys. That’s as far as I’ve gone with my Piano 36, no gold trim. Anyway, the felts should fit flat and close with a plink sound. If some are loose that could make for a floppy feel. The plastic parts that the flat metal attaches to is the keys, I think.

[Lamar]

Well, I think the trim on my 36 *is* kind of gold… What have you found out?

[James B]

Hi Lamar! And thanks for the emails! I haven’t had any other success yet. The bottom cover is off but, somehow I need to get to the keys to see if I can reset or whatever may be needed. Not sure if the sides come off or not but, somehow it must breakdown farther than just the bottom cover.
I haven’t found anything on youtube that could help. Maybe the Piano 36 is just different to try to dismantle.
I’ve previously opened and worked on a Student 32 and had no problems but, this doesn’t look as easy.
Hopefully someone here will have had experience to know how to proceed. I want to be careful not to tear anything up trying to fix the bad keys.
If there’s a different spot on this site where I should post to get more help, please let me know.
Thanks for your emails and suggestions.
James

[Lamar]

Hey, James. Actually, I’m posting at the forum. You’re getting them in email because you’ve subscribed to the thread I guess. I’m taking mine apart for cleaning and deodorizing, but I’m not planning to remove any keys. However, with the back cover off and the reed plates away from you, you’ll see the row of springs. Remove the spring from the key you want to work on, and I think you can wobble/pull/push/work the key out. I’ve removed the reed plates from mine and found part of what looks like white key material and some excess flashing from the manufacturing process. I’m going to clean it with Dawn dish detergent.

Looks like the airflow, again from the springs end facing you, is from the mouthpiece, through the channel all the way to other end, into the valve compartment from the treble end.

My leak is somewhere in there. The clue is that the leak is under the keys, so it’s either a pallet valve not sealing, or the gasket between the compartments (on the back cover) is letting air flow over.

[James B]

Hi Lamar! And thanks for the note! I was hoping that it would breakdown further than just the bottom plate. My concern about removing the spring with the shell still on is that I may not be able to get the spring back on again but, guess it’s worth a try.
Hope you find your leak!
James

[Lamar]

You need to get a “pick set” – common mechanics tool set that has four picks of different end shapes. Here’s one at Amazon.

I don’t think the shell *is* removable on this model.

[James B]

Hi Lamar! Good idea and thanks for the link! I looked for a dental tool I once had and did not find but, made due with a large paperclip. Yes, I think you’re right, I can’t see how it comes apart any further either. I did make headway and learned some things. I found that you must remove a black key to get some of the white keys out. The melodica must have had a hard hit or drop at some point the arms that close the holes on a few keys were off location, one white key had a chip underneath where the guide prong holds it in and on two keys the guide prong under the keys was bent down and that was allowing the movement or wiggle of the keys. In what I did I created a noise leak, went back in and straightened that out and thought I had made headway on my lifted key but, it was temporary. I tried to bend the arm down some to compensate for the key being up. It looked good for a bit but, went back to the up location after playing some. I may need to get a replacement key for it. I glued a plastic piece on the broken spot on the under part of one key and pushed the guide pieces back a bit to where they were functioning and allowed no wiggle to those keys.
I still have the one lifted key and I when playing a G and then the A next to it, the G is staying down with the A. playing the opposite order is ok. So, I’ll need to make another try at it but, it’s playing ok, looks pretty clean inside, no rust and is sounding and functioning pretty good.
I read that there were 3 generations of the piano 36, not sure which I have with the gold trim but, sounds pretty good. I like the sound of the low notes.
The pic set should be helpful next time. Good idea!
James

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