Tom, Ed, Jon, Gerry & Fred- Many thanks to all for your helpful replies and discussion. I believe the source of the "problem" is that the new pedal cushions ("ravioli") are thicker than the originals. I mentioned this as a possibility in my original post, and Fred also confirms that he has seen this before. In any case, I guess the solution is still to cut a little off each of the three rods, not to squish down the cushions. Since I am customizing the rod lengths to what's now there, I plan to leave the leather dots inside the rubber bushings. I will report back my results. -- Paul Milesi, RPT Staff Piano Technician Howard University Department of Music Washington, DC > From: Fred Sturm <fssturm at unm.edu> > Reply-To: <caut at ptg.org> > Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 12:57:57 -0600 > To: <caut at ptg.org> > Subject: Re: [CAUT] Steinway Pedal Lyre Regulation After Reconditioning > > What about under the pedals, the cushions that provide a positive stop > (pedals at rest)? I have had pianos returned after a rebuild project > where those were too thick, leading to the problems you mention. > > Regards, > Fred Sturm > fssturm at unm.edu > http://www.youtube.com/fredsturm > On Aug 14, 2010, at 12:20 AM, Paul Milesi, RPT wrote: > >> Today I re-installed a reconditioned 1970 Steinway D lyre, and found >> that >> all the rods are too long. >> >> I believe all the basic parts are "original." I replaced all the >> pedal >> bushings -- leather, rubber pedal rod bushings with the little leather >> inserts, teflon pivot rod bushings, pedal cushions (ravioli) , etc. >> Now the >> sostenuto piston is protruding up into the keybed 1/8" or maybe >> 1/16", the >> dampers have a slight ring, and I'm not sure what's going on with >> the una >> corda because I still have the action torn down, but the trap lever >> looks >> high. >> >> The pedal rods are the newer adjustable type, and I didn't expect >> this to be >> a problem. But I've got the nut turned all the way down as far as >> it will >> go and they're still too long. There's only one leather disk on >> each trap >> lever (original I believe, and slightly worn in), and no felt or other >> bushing or shim in that area. >> >> I'm thinking this might be because the system in 1970 was to place a >> larger >> leather bushing in the bottom of the pedal receiving end, and the >> rubber >> bushing only went around the outside of the rod, whereas now you've >> got the >> thickness of the leather + the thickness of the rubber bushing >> underneath. >> But I thought they made the little leather inserts thinner than the >> larger >> diameter leather bushings that went in the bottom of the pedal. >> >> An alternative source for the problem might be thicker ravioli. >> >> I'm inclined to cut the rods, but don't want to mess up original >> equipment >> for the long term unless that is the way to go based on lots of >> experience >> from other reconditioners/rebuilders. Are there subtle differences >> in the >> length of pedal rods over the years? What about trying to compress >> the >> ravioli? Any other ideas? >> >> Am I missing something here? >> -- >> Paul Milesi, RPT >> Staff Piano Technician >> Howard University Department of Music >> Washington, DC >> >> > > > >
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