Don, David, et al, At 08:15 PM 1/29/01 -0800, Don wrote: >To prevent these from breaking again, adjust the pedal stop capstan under >the keybed down so that the dampers are not lifted too high. In almost >all cases where the damper tray pivots have broken, you will find that the >dampers are being lifted too far, and the levers are jamming on the upstop >rail. In many cases I find that the trap lever stop capstan has also been >forced up into the keybed by heavy pedal stomping! > >After the pedal stop capstan is adjusted, stomp hard on the pedal yourself >to make sure it won't be pushed up into the keybed during use. If it is >loose, take out the capstan, insert a strip of buckskin coated with white >glue into the hole, and re-install the capstan. > >If the pedal stop is solid and adjusted correctly (the dampers should lift >the same or slightly less with the pedal compared with a sharp key), and >the upstop is also adjusted correctly, and if you make sure the damper >tray center pins are nice and snug fitting (much tighter than a normal >action center), you should have a reliable system. Keep an eye on the >adjustments at each tuning, and you should prevent further damage. For those who deal with people who break these things often, try the following: Eliminate part of the problem by replacing the pedal stop capstan with a combination of leather and felt - often, one layer of resole leather and a hunk of hammer felt, to start with. Then adjust as Don suggests above, remembering to check from time to time. It's an old trick learned from a nameless alte kacher which has saved me much angst when dealing with exuberant performers. The existing design is ok for 10-year-olds, but is a recipe for disaster in a commercial or institutional setting. Many pianists seem to view the pedals as on\off switches...one wonders how they drive... Cheers. Horace +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Horace Greeley, email: hgreeley@stanford.edu CNA, MCP, RPT Systems Analyst/Engineer voice: 650.725.9062 Controller's Office fax: 650.725.8014 Stanford University 651 Serra St., RM 100, MC 6215 Stanford, CA 94305-6215 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC