Baldwin Action Problem

[Jeff Tanner]

Hi Ed,
I've noticed that all our Baldwin L's exhibit the same problem.  I believe
they are all 1994, though the school acquired them in '95.  Baldwin
actions.  I haven't noticed it as much on our SF-10s with Renner actions,
but that's not to say it isn't present.  Baldwin's recommended dip,
according to the service manual, is between .400 (±.007) and .415 (there is
a discrepancy in the manual -- the chart shows .400, but under the DEPTH OF
TOUCH instructions, it states .415), and hammer blow is 1-7/8".  But I
can't lower the hammer rest rail low enough to get that blow distance, and
the rest rail certainly can't be set at 1/8" below the hammershanks.  The
rest rail at it's lowest point will block movement of the wippens and will
click against the wippen flanges when the hammers return.  Some
hammershanks click on the repitition lever adjustment screw.  I wind up
with excessive aftertouch.  I've had some success with decreasing dip using
my Steinway .390 dip block, but aftertouch is still a little more excessive
than I like -- you can't set drop at 1/16" without the hammer rising above
the letoff point and blocking at the bottom of the keystroke.

It is particularly more problematic with too little friction in the
hammershank pinning.

Also, the front rail punchings are pretty spongy, and that doesn't help
matters any.

I wondered if anyone else experienced this, and now I know.
Jeff

>    I've just been puzzling over a 1980's  SF-10. It is a very good
>sounding Baldwin, made in the  Conway factory. BUT, there is an action
>problem. When dip is set to a standard block (Steinway),  there is very
>excessive aftertouch. The owner says it has always been like  this. When I
>lower the capstans to decrease aftertouch,  the shanks knock on the
>repetition lever regulating screw. The only choice is excessive aftertouch
>or shallow  dip.  The prof. does a lot of performing, so he wants
>standard keydip on his practice instrument. Something is wrong with this
>instrument.   Possibly the string height is low, and they let it go? I
>could shorten the hammer bore distance...or just  file down the hammers?
>Is there some regulation, shimming or rail  adjustment I'm missing? Thank
>you. Ed Sutton