Rattles & squeaks

[A440A@aol.com]

greetings;
Avery writes;

>> advice on a good way to get rid of a rattle coming from
>>the lock mechanism in the stretcher bar of a new Kawai GS-70. I can move
>>the lock with my fingers and the rattle stops. Any suggestions?

     Take it out and put a glob of rubber cement on or in it, then reinstall.


  >> Also, our rebuilt Steinway B developed a BAD squeak coming from the
>>contact point of the brass pitman to the buckskin on the damper tray. I
>>applied some teflon powder lube to it and stopped the squeak. Will this
>>last? Should I replace the brass rod with wood? Any ideas.

     If the  trapwork geometry is correct,  the brass rod functions well.
 However, a  smaller diameter dowel, seated in facing cups, will give less
trouble than any other arrangement I have seen. A Forstner bit from below
will drill the recess in the bottom of the damper tray.
     When indexing the twin arcs of damper tray and trapwork lever, (via
pitman length), I attempt to have both tray and lever perpendicular to the
pitman at the midpoint of their travel.  This is not always possible,  as
damper tray angles and lengths of trapwork levers seem to vary, but the
minimizing of relative motion at the pitman always pays long term dividends
in quietness and wear.
   And as you suggest,  the teflon powder is the best thing I have found for
the damper tray.

Regards,
Ed Foote