S&S alignment

[Ken Jankura]

I have encountered an unusual problem with a 1952 S&S 'M'. Simple
regulation, right, but the alignment of hammer to wippen to capstan seems
to be farther off as you go. The hammers were almost all striking too far
to the left (you know, where you have to use the shift pedal to tune
unisons). On my workbench I have simulated shimming out the frame stop
block to correct this and by shifting it almost 1/8 inch (!) and spacing
hammers as far as I can to the treble, they line up ok with my string mark
gauge. The wippens are farther still to the right (you know, where the
knuckle rests on one half of the rep lever only) and the capstans are
already off center to the right, so correcting the wip spacing will make
the capstan placement worse (you can look straight down on the action and
see the edge of each capstan between the wips.  I'm not sure til I get back
to the piano whether or not I am in trouble with the damper/key end felt
interface by having shifted the action frame over. I am reluctant to
relocate the action stack, though this seems to be what they should have
done in the factory 40 years ago. I may be missing something here, but I am
getting increasingly more frustrated as I try to get this piano lined up
right. Has anyone run into this kind of situation before on a Steinway. Any
words of advice, if not encouragement? (I should note the piano has all
original parts, etc.)
Ken Jankura RPT (Real Phrustrated Technician)
Newburg, PA