Damper lifter rod return

[Horace Greeley]

Dave,

I think that Kimball at one time used a steel-wire spring which ran
parallel to, and behind (next to the rail) the lifter rod itself.  These had
a nasty habit of snapping off and disappearing, usually a long time ago.

Try looking to see if, perhaps, there is the remnant of some such thing.
It should be easy enough to add a dummy lever, if needed.

Good luck.

Horace



At 07:14 PM 3/17/97 -0500, you wrote:
>In a message dated 97-03-15 18:41:14 EST, you write:
>
><< List,
>
> I am finishing up my Kimball Upright project and have found that
> the lifter rod is not returning fully.  Often there is a dummy
> damper lever to return the rod but not on this beast.  Any ideas
> as I look into installing a dummy damper lever, which seems the
> best way at this moment. >>
>
>David: I have had this problem and have installed various springs in the past
>to the lifter rod and other places to over come it. I would check the lifter
>rod and make sure it floats easily. In other words out of the piano, check
>the rod to see if it falls away from the dampers easily. If not, time to
>check the hanger bushings and lubricate or ream if necessary. If this not the
>case, check all linkages up to the rod and make sure that the pedal rod full
>retracts. Spring under pedal, etc. Make sure the felt on the action rail
>allows the rod to come back far enough from the damper levers to allow them
>to seat fully on the strings. That would be the goal. I guess you knew that.
>Yours Truly, Sam G. Chicago.
>
>
Horace Greeley

Stanford University
email: hgreeley@leland.stanford.edu
voice mail: 415.725.9062
LiNCS help line: 415.725.4627