[CAUT] Lowell gauge zero bearing

[Bob Hull]

I'm still working on this Baldwin S-10 and have a question about setting the string ht. on the accujust pins according to the chart and instructions that were given recently by Ron Nossaman including bearing instructions from the factory.

Just wanting to make sure that I'm interpreting the instrucitons correctly because the results seem strange.

To first of all set the bearing to zero we used the lowell gauge with the two feet on the bridge adjacent to a string and set the bubble to the very middle for ease of reading.  Then we set the lowell gauge (without turning it around) on the rear segment of the string (at least 1" or more away from the bridge); and then lowered the string on the hitch pin to show the same bubble position.  A few samples in the low tenor required the string to be only 1/16" off of the plate.  Samples in the upper treble sections required lowering the string on the hitch to about 1/8" off of the plate.  These are much lower than the original heights on the accu-just hitch pins.  

I know the instructions say to start at the top and bring 10 strings up to pitch then set them to zero bearing, But that will make our heights need to be even lower as it loads the bridge fully.  We didn't change anything in regards to plate height, I'm pretty sure.  We mic'd the block pretty carefully for thickness.  

Any ideas at why the string hts are coming out so low on the hitch pins?

Thanks.