Steinway repetition problem

[Fenton Murray]

William,
There's no magic. All the stuff you've done needed doing, now let's check the balance of the key. I have a very detailed method for doing this but all you have to do is give this piano 25gr of upweight (with the damper pedal depressed) and you should be good to go. To check, take one of your failing keys and slide a weight back and forth on the rear of the key until the key will lift 25gr. That should let you know if it's the problem. If that key board has upweights in the teens it's not going to play correctly and your going to have the type of problems your describing especially with the damper pedal depressed. Don't add weight to the back if you have it in the front to remove, but I doubt there is any in the front, if there is that's probably a booboo. To take a lead out, drill a hole in a 2x2 a little larger than the lead, place the key in a 'T' formation across the 2x2 with the lead over the hole. Put this whole deal on your drill press table with the drill press off. Place a punch, or rod, or drill bit upside down, of a diameter a little smaller than the lead and punch it out. Or just use a hammer. That's if there's lead in the front. To add it at the back you'll need to buy some leads, 1/2" should work, take one and slide it around on the back of each key and make a mark where it provides a 25gr upweight, then drill those keys with a 1/2 bit and push the lead in. Tap it with a screw driver to swage it and make it stay in the hole. Or just use Jiffy leads. All this is assuming the piano does not have too much friction. This is a very abbreviated procedure to accurately setting a balance weight, but will work very well on upright pianos in my experience.
Fenton
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Joe And Penny Goss 
  To: Pianotech List 
  Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 7:55 PM
  Subject: Re: Steinway repetition problem


  Hi William,
  Adding weight may not be the thing to do.
  Check the wippen heal for divots and sand level if you find them.
  Lube with teflon powder.

  Joe Goss RPT
  Mother Goose Tools
  imatunr at srvinet.com
  www.mothergoosetools.com
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Piano Boutique 
    To: pianotech at ptg.org 
    Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 1:19 PM
    Subject: Steinway repetition problem


    Greetings list,

     

    Like so many that have written into this list, I am being backed into a corner and could appreciate any words of wisdom that might be offered.   I have a customer with a Steinway 42 inch vertical , serial, 331374 that looks like it came out of the 60's.   The piano has what I think to be a Pratt Read action and the problem is with the repetition.   This is one of those pianos that have very little mass weight in the keys behind the balance rail.   When I started with it, there was a lot of free play in the capstans and of coarse, I thought I would improve it by adjusting them correctly.   Now the keys are stalling and I would like to solve the problem.   

     

    I did take the action out and: shape hammers, clean, lube, tighten screws.   I replaced the action and adjusted: level, dip, let off, back checks and like I said; capstans.   I have had this problem with other Steinways like this one, but am getting tired of it and would like this one to work.

     

    I know I can add weights to the backs of the keys, but that would make the touch heavier.   I could take out weights from in front of the balance point, but would like some suggestions on how to remove them carefully, so if it doesn't work and decide to replace them I can.

     

    The customer has been patient and given me my space to create the magic we do, but if it doesn't play right, then no one is happy.   Thanks for any help in advance.

     

    William

     

     

     

    PIANO BOUTIQUE
    William Benjamin
    The tuner alone,
    Preserves the tone.
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