Damper lever felts, dents in

[Paul McCloud]

My experience is that the felt has somehow leached out a substance which
coats the spoons.  I've used a damp cloth to rub/soak off whatever-it-is. 
Best to replace the felt at any rate, you can't be sure if your steaming
will be a long term solution.
	Paul McCloud
	San Diego


> [Original Message]
> From: R Moody <remoody@midstatesd.net>
> To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Date: 03/06/2004 10:41:31 PM
> Subject: Damper lever felts, dents in 
>
> I am servecing a 70's Cable Nelson consloe "Made by Everette".  Around C4
> (middle C) some of the damper lever felts are so indented from the
pressure
> of the damper spoon that that dent catches the spoon upon return and won't
> allow the wip to return all the way.  Some others do return but much
slower
> than with the damper pedal depressed.
>
> The felt does not appear to be cheap or defective or worn out, just
> depressed as if from the pressure from the damper spoon against it all the
> time.  It is thicker than usual when compared to older upright felts.
>
> My questions are, why are some of the felts dented but not others in the
> area?   Can the position of the damper spoon be a cause?   Some of the
> dampers rise too soon, but that often happens after the 2nd or 3rd lost
> motion adjustment.
> Is the damper lift rod supposed to be regulated keep the damper levers off
> the felt?   Do the spoons have to be positioned to avoid denting the
felts?
> I have never worried about dampers lifting too soon unless they are
failing
> to damp quick enough, on consoles and uprights at least.
> Can the damper springs be too strong?  A sample spring from this piano the
> last one, # 64? takes 4 ounces to move the flange, while a lever from an
old
> upright  takes 8 ounces.  The old one's felt is twice as thin as the C
> Nelson.
>
> Can I steam these "dents" out?  I tried one, dabbing water on the dent and
> then applying the clients iron set at lenin.
> The dent came out but who knows for how long?   Then I tried my hammer
> softening solution, (patent pending ;) but have to wait until Tuesday
when I
> return.  I wedged the pedal down so the lever felts would be off the
spoons.
>
> If anyone has worked with these dents I would like to know other than
> replacing the felt.
>
> Richard Moody
>                             "Nature has placed in our minds an insatiable
> longing to see the truth."
>                                     Marcus Tullius Cicero (106BC-43BC);
> Roman statesman, scholar and orator
>
>
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