Sticking Steinway dampers

[Mike Musial]

In a message BobDavis writes:

>It may also be that the sostenuto needs adjusting. Check the Steinway service
>manual for instructions. You can tell if this is the problem if when you push
>it lightly back down, it "snaps" ever so slightly. On a hard blow the
>sostenuto tab on the damper top flange shoots on by the sostenuto knife. 

Right Bob, on occasion it is hanging on the sostenuto and proper adjustment
solves that problem. In this case I should have mentioned that after
removing the action, the offending dampers would still stick if I lifted
them with my finger.  

>You can test the damper for friction just by feel. With the action out, just
>lift and release the underlever slowly with one finger. Also, the wire should
>press ever so lightly on the bushing on the side closest to the unison being
>damped. Push it gently away and let go. You can develop a feel for how much is
>too much.

Probably the offending wires are coming out of the factory just pressing a
bit too much. Not enough to cause any problems for the owner until I step in
with a few judicious test blows that may change the alignment slightly, but
just enough to cause this problem.  As I said, once I remove the damper and
bend the wire to relieve this side pressure, the problem never comes back. 

I do not believe my test blows are too forceful, or the wire would move
again during the course of tuning and the problem return. Maybe the
technician/s that might tune the piano before me use a kinder, gentler
method of equalizing string tension. This problem might eventually show up
after a few years of playing. My method must just hasten the inevitable. 

Mike Musial RPT
Reedsville Pa