Damper lift rod

Ed Carwithen edwithen@oregontrail.net
Sat, 02 Dec 2000 11:29:17 -0800


Good morning Gentlemen:

some advice please!

I Did a Kimball studio type piano a couple of days ago.  It had not been
tuned for a number of years.. was 30 c flat.  Piano about 20 years old, and
in generally fine condition.  Tuned up nicely...BUT when I checked the
pedals the sustain had a horrible screechy sound.  More than a squeek.  Got
the action out, and the damper rod is brushing the tops of the damper
spoons as it operates.  
  I did not attempt to make repairs at that time as the hour was late, and
the day had been long.  I am to come back and correct soon.  
  I would guess that the piano may have been jarred somewhat when being
moved around from former house, causing the damper rod to fall.  I can't
imagine that the spoons have raised.  The rod actually touches some 25-30
spoons in every section.  You can see them wink when activating the sustain
pedal or with the action out by moving the sustain lever.
  It did not appear that the screws holding in the damper rod guides were
loose. I should have checked, but did not.  It will be an easy thing to
check.  I think that shaving a miniscule amount of metal off the top of the
damper spoons would correct the problem, unless there is some reason that
the rod would descend further.

  Any thoughts?????????????????????

Ed Carwithen
John Day

P.S.  Interesting day!  My first tune for the day was in a small one room
school; only 15 students.  When I arrived there was no school!!  It had
burned down at 6 am the morning before!!  The poor teacher, a young guy in
his mid twenties, was shell shocked.
Fortunately (at least in my opinion) the piano had been in the gym, and the
gym was the only structure left standing.  The piano is fairly new and in
great condition; a pleasure to work on.  I did the piano, as they are going
ahead with their Christmas program, and school will be held in the gym for
the forseeable future.  Never a dull moment!






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