slow returning hammers

[Jon Page]

Isolate the problem: is it the hammers centers or keys.

If the key bushings or balance rail holes are tight then the hammers will 
appear to be sluggish.
Hold the backs of the keys down and lift the hammers to the strings and 
release, if they return to
the rest position quickly then the binding is in the keys.Similarly, check 
the wippen travel, key travel.

If it is the hammer centers, apply an alcohol and water sizing solution. If 
that doesn't work, repin.

In any event, it would be a good idea to ease the keys. Clean/polish the 
key pins with white Scotch Brite
and your favorite CLP. Ease the key bushings with a Key Bushing Iron. Apply 
Teflon powder with a pipe cleaner
to the bushings and balance rail hole. Use a Yamaha-style balance rail hole 
burnisher to ease each key.


Regards,

Jon Page, piano technician
Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass.
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~