Back rail and key leads

[V T]

Hello Paul,

Regarding the first item, you haven't told us what
makes you suspicious that the back rail felt and the
front punchings are not proper for this action?

Regarding the weight, you now have a very low
friction, only about 7 grams, so before proceeding
with the weight issue, we should clarify that.  Your
balance weight is only  23 g, which tells me that
either the hammers are about 2g short on weight, or
somebody has added too much lead to the keysticks.

I don't think the back rail cloth thickness is related
to the weight problem.

Best regards,

Vladan

============================

List,

I have an AB Chase 9' grand action to get rebuilt. 
Someone has changed the
backrail cloth and the frontrail punchings.  They are
not original and I
don't think that either are the correct thickness. 
They are correct in
relation to each other, but I don't think in relation
to the action.  The
keys in this piano are tapered (longer in the base
than in the treble) and
there is a ton of lead (as many as six leads) in each
key.  The average down
weight is 30 grams and the average up weight is 16
grams.

I think I have two problems:

1)  The backrail cloth is not the right thickness, I
think.  What is the
process for determining the correct thickness?  Does
it make a difference if
the keys are tapered?

2)  I think there is too much lead in the keys.  I
have to replace the
wippons and shanks and flanges.  That should reduce
the friction in the
action.  Is it necessary to go with a hammer that is
heavier than the
existing hammers or go with a hammer of the same
weight and knock out a lead
or two from each key?

Another question:  How are these two problems related?

Paul Chick Jr.
Plainview, MN
Minnesota-North Iowa Chapter 551


		
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