Schimmel Upright question (lost motion)

[Isaac OLEG]

Hello,

True, I've find that a fine tuning of a large lost motion will not
only allow for a smoother touch on many verticals, but a more open
sound, and a better repetition.
It is in fact often necessary on old Yamaha U1, 2 3 series in order to
obtain a good "drop" when the leather have been worn a bit.


Tapping lightly the key with the handle of your regulating tool will
help to reset the things in place to ascertain the evenness of the
feel and of the move of the key. When tapping look at the jack under
the leather, look at the backchecks too, and feel under your finger
till you have a nice smooth feel with a precise start under your
finger.

be careful that the springs (and pinning) of the jack may and of the
hammers may be strong enough to keep the jack in contact when the key
is played.

On Schimmel, the dampers springs are often too strong. lube (McLube on
the damper's  spoon) will help too.

hope that helps

Isaac

> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : owner-pianotech@ptg.org
> [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]De la part
> de Richard Moody
> Envoyé : samedi 7 septembre 2002 05:47
> À : pianotech@ptg.org
> Objet : Re: Schimmel Upright question
>
>
> You might find the action OK, but if they want it still lighter
> give them a little lost motion.  I know this seems like a terrible
> cheat but after all its only an upright so read on.  Sounds like
> the dealer was asleep and could or should have included a Damp
> Chaser with it.  This is in the Houston area?  I am guessing it
> has been on the floor long enough to pick up some Houston
> Humidity.   Dirty trick #3.   "There is a play in period.  If
> after 100 hours there is dissatisfaction......." BUT guess what?
> By then there is lost motion and lost motion can actually lighten
> touch.
>      Consider what is called "break away tension", which is the
> excess over inertia caused by friction for which an extra effort
> is needed to get the hammer moving.  However if there is 1mm of
> lost mo that means the key moves 1mm before trying to move the
> hammer. Thus the break away of the key has already been over come
> PLUS  the key is in momentum when the jack comes in contact with
> the butt.   This extra momentum diminishes the feel of the
> resistance of the break away friction created by the various
> centers of which some are tighter than others and a few too loose.
>     Depending on how the factory deals with friction in the
> various flange centers.  You should see how they do it at the
> Walter's factory.
>
>  I can't believe anyone would spend 13,000 on any musical
> instrument until it was to their EXACT
>               ---ric
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Avery Todd
>   To: pianotech@ptg.org
>   Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 6:18 PM
>   Subject: Schimmel Upright question
>
>
>   List,
>
>   Does anyone have any experience with Schimmel uprights? I
> received this from
>   one of my outside customers and will be going to check it out in
> the next
>   day or so. Here's a part of the e-mail:
>
>   >Dace bought a replacement, a Schimmel vertical, from the Piano
> Store on
>   >Westheimer.  Unfortunately, I
>   >don't remember the model number, but the piano listed for
> approximately
>   >$13,000.  While trying out the
>   >piano in the store, Dace noticed that the touch was just a tiny
> bit heavy
>   >and asked if it could be adjusted
>   >if he decided to buy the instrument.  He was assured by the
> salesperson
>   >that the action could indeed be
>   >adjusted
>
>