A couple of questions for the flute techs,, if they would be as kind to help..

A offset g, non-E-mech flute,, all the notes play apart from Normal F. when you press the F key down, the key to the left of it closes too, but looking closely at it, it does not close all the way down it stays slighty up, enough to be able to slide a cigarette paper in and out with no trouble.
Inbetween the two keys there are two screws on the flat part of the mechanism, would one of these be the one to adjust the key which is not closing??

The flute has been playing ok, then suddenly the F went,i'm thinking it has slipped out of adjustment?? Playing F# is fine..

On the subject of repairs,, is this book any good??

http://www.burkart.com/book/book.htm?sid=0001AmidF4na1tsVBc7s838

Its seems to be the only book concerned with flute repairs and maintence that is out there..

Thanks..

Maybe i should add, that i won't be taking my flute apart to learn on ,oh no,, i've got a ebay one here that will be the guinea pig, thats about all its good for..lol..
Only its got an e-mech on it so its slighty different..

The Complete Guide to the Flute is an excellent, comprehensive book about the flute. There's some good info about flute maintenance and repair, but it can be a bit deep at times for a beginning guide to repair.

Another good book, it Jeff Smith's book:
http://www.jlsmithco.com/Home/BOOKS/SERVICING-THE-FLUTE-BY-JEFF-SMITH

I think it's a bit easier to understand for someone just learning about flute repair. It's a very small book with lots of pictures to illustrate the explanations. That makes it a good introductory book.

Both books are very good and each has something unique to offer, so they are complimentary.

A offset g, non-E-mech flute,, all the notes play apart from Normal F. when you press the F key down, the key to the left of it closes too, but looking closely at it, it does not close all the way down it stays slighty up, enough to be able to slide a cigarette paper in and out with no trouble. Inbetween the two keys there are two screws on the flat part of the mechanism, would one of these be the one to adjust the key which is not closing??

If there is a clutch plate with 2 screws it is located between the E and D key and regulate the F# for each of those keys. Your post says these are in adjustment. Don't touch those.

The one you need to find is the one between the F and F# key. Sometimes the clutch is under the Bb shake. Sometimes it is mounted slightly elsewhere. On some flutes there is no adjusting screw there and the Clutch plate itself needs to be shimmed or bent back into regulation.

It depends on the flute. What model?/brand?

Joe B

Hi Joe.

Thanks. The flute is a Powell signature. There is two screws bewteen the F and F# key, i take it,it would be one of these??

Thanks musicman for the link, that book looks interesting too, i think i might go ahead and order it,,, my poor ebay flute..lol.

Also, to avoid confusion and be sure you are using the same terminology to describe the keys you are looking at, the F# key is directly under the Bb trill key. The key that you press with your RH ring finger to play an F# note is the D key.

Does it look like this?

http://www.justflutes.com/pages/product-image.php?image=powell_signature_1.jpg

If yes, their construction is a little different. There should be a screw on the back side under the F key. From what I can tell from this and another picture, there is a separate clutch under the D key and the double screwed clutch is between the F and E key.

As Micron specified the screw adjustment is made using the one underneath the F key..

Joe B