S&S alignment

[Frank Weston]

Ken,

Has any previous work been done on this piano?  Has is been restrung?  Has
the plate been out?  New pinblock?

There's just a wild possibility that the strings are moved too far too the
right.  If the problem only occurs after the agraffes, and appears to get
worse as you move up the treble, then you definitely have a clue.  First
things first.  Make sure the strings are where they should be.

Next, check that the spacer at the bass end of the keybed (upon which the
keyframe is held by the soft pedal spring) is present, the right size, and
has any original felt.  If the spacer or felt is missing, that could also
explain things.

Moving the stack is not going to solve your problem, only make it worse.
Either the strings must be moved, or the action must be repositioned under
the strings.  Check the dimples in the damper lift felts on the back of the
keys for more clues as to position of the damper action and/or alignment.

Frank Weston

-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Jankura <kenrpt@mail.cvn.net>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Saturday, August 28, 1999 5:01 PM
Subject: S&S alignment


>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
>
>
>