Sticking Steinway dampers

[David ilvedson]

Doug,

Your right, that also should be in the test along with Newton's 
"thicknessing" the felt block under the keybed.  

Sincerely,

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA



> Date:          Sat, 18 Jul 1998 09:59:08 -0700
> From:          Douglas Hershberger <dbhersh@home.com>
> Organization:  @Home Network
> To:            pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject:       Re: Sticking Steinway dampers
> Reply-to:      pianotech@ptg.org

> David,
>    There is another test that might explain the problem you've
> described. Depress the sostenuto, then randomly hit forte blows within
> the damper area and if any dampers hold up it is because the knife is to
> far away but not so far that the sostenuto won't work, although not at
> its best. I always check this as well as the test you mentioned earlier.
> Doug Hershberger,RPT
> 
> David ilvedson wrote:
> > 
> > Which also reminds me...the test for a properly regulated
> > sostenudo is to depress the sustain and while holding it depress
> > the sostenudo.  The Sostenudo should lift all the dampers
> > slightly and hold them up when the sustain is released.  Then
> > with slow release of sostenudo the dampers should fall randomly.
> > Of course depressing the sostenudo should not engage any
> > dampers. I have observed that sometimes the sostenudo won't lift
> > the dampers after the sustain is depressed but will sustain
> > individual dampers when used with the keys...I haven't thought
> > this one through but does anyone know why the sostenudo will
> > still work when it doesn't pass the classic test?
> > 
> > David Ilvedson, RPT
> > Pacifica, CA
> > 
> > > Date:          Fri, 17 Jul 1998 17:45:51 -0400
> > > From:          nhunt@jagat.com (Newton Hunt)
> > > To:            pianotech@ptg.org
> > > Subject:       Re: Sticking Steinway dampers
> > > Reply-to:      pianotech@ptg.org
> > 
> > > David Ivedson wrote:
> > >  If this happening regulate Sostenudo!  Make sure the
> > > dampers are not raising too far.  They should just raise to
> > > slightly above the height of the dampers raised by the sostenudo
> > > pedal.  If raising to high they can bind in the guide rail
> > > bushings.
> > >
> > > This statement could confuse some people.  The proper procedure (one
> > > that works) is to regulate the timing of the dampers the the sustain
> > > pedal so that there is a small amount of lost motion between when the
> > > pedal is depressed and when the dampers begin to move.  Next set the
> > > sustain lever stop block so that the dampers are raised the same height
> > > as the sharp keys.  Next regulate the damper stop rail so the dampers
> > > have but a tiny amount of lost motion after the pedal (not the key) is
> > > depressed.
> > >
> > > Finally you can regulate the sostonuto.  Set the blade so it is at about
> > > 45 degrees to the vertical, set the height of the blade tip to the same
> > > height as the tip of the tabs.  With the action in and blocks in place
> > > depress the sustain then the sostonuto, release the sustain and tap the
> > > damper heads.  If any fall through the blade needs to be moved toward
> > > the dampers.  Next depress the sostonuto several times to check if any
> > > tabs are being touched.  If so tap the blade bracket toward the font of
> > > the keys.
> > >
> > > This should make all work well.
> > >
> > >                                 Newton
> > >                                 nhunt@jagat.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> 
> 
David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA
ilvey@jps.net