sluggish upright jack

[Brian Trout]

Hi Eliot,

You wrote:
I lowered the capstan and eased the keys still didn't help
much.  I noticed that there were no leads in the keys.


Lowering the capstan slightly might help in a marginal situation, but going 
more than a tiny bit doesn't help at all, but rather introduces lost motion 
and bad regulation, maybe bobbling hammers.  Tight keys do make an action 
feel sluggish and if they're not returning to their full rest position, it 
will look a lot like the jacks are sticky, and indeed, they may have trouble 
getting back under the hammer butt.  But that's not necessarily the jack's 
fault.  I'm not terribly concerned that there aren't any key leads.  As a 
matter of fact, I kind of like that.  Less inertia, easy to play, responsive 
to the player when all is working correctly and balanced appropriately.

I'm with Clyde on this one.  Try the Protec and see if that takes care of 
the problem.  Sometimes it will.  And if it does, it's quick and cheap.

You mention repinning.  That's certainly an option, but it's pretty a pretty 
involved and tedious process.

Another thing you might consider is an application (or a series of 
applications) of an alcohol and water mixture to shrink the felt a bit.  
There have been several people on the list here that have done this with 
some good success.  Each may have a slightly different formula, but it may 
be worth considering.  (If you're lookin' in the archives, it might say 
something like vodka instead of alcohol.)

Just some passing thoughts.

Good luck,

Brian Trout
Slidell, LA
trouts_place@hotmail.com


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