Steinway K Double flange

[Tom Driscoll]

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On
Behalf Of Ajay Mistry
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2003 2:13 PM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Steinwway K Double flange

Hello list have taken a Steinway K upright for repairs
its action is of type having double flange ie hammer &
damper both attached to the same flange on either side
with two center pins . I am having problem in setting
the hammer travel when the hammer is going right & I
put the travel paper to correct it the hammer becomes
straight but the damper also moves left .
      Does anyone out there have had experience for
setting the hammer travel while not disturbing the
damper alignment.
                 Also I am going to install both new
hammer heads as well as damper felts should I work
simultaneously or fix hammers first & dampers later or
dampers first & hammers later.
      Thanks a lot in advance.
                                    Ajay Mistry.

=====
Ajay Mistry

________________________________________________________________________
Ajay,
	I would take the dampers off the flanges by loosening the
screw-plate, and then paper the flanges to travel the new shanks before
installing the hammers. You'll have better access to the flanges without
the damper levers in the way.
	Hang the hammers then install the damper levers. Bend the damper
wires to align the heads to the strings, then glue the damper felt on. 
	One issue I've had with older Steinway damper levers is that the
wires are very heavy and not very malleable. The levers can break when
you bend the wires to align to the strings. I sometimes grab the lever
with parallel pliers where the wire enters to avoid splitting the lever.

	Replacing the levers is an option but expensive .There is also a
good argument for replacing the butts and Whippens but that is another
topic.
	Tom Driscoll RPT