Steinway repetition problem

paulrevenkojones at aol.com paulrevenkojones at aol.com
Mon Mar 24 22:27:09 MST 2008


 Correction: "in order for the jack to return under the hammer butt..."


 


 

-----Original Message-----
From: paulrevenkojones at aol.com
To: pmc033 at earthlink.net; pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:24 am
Subject: Re: Steinway repetition problem











 Just a thought, William, based on what you said. The capstans displayed "free play", what we call lost motion, which later you say you corrected. Lost motion seems to be one of the least understood upright regulations. You have to have zero in order to accomplish some other regulations, then you have to have some to accomplish some others. In the end, you have to have some lost motion (maybe in the range of 1/32", or a wink of the whippen or backcheck) in order for the hammer to return under the hammer butt. Have you got the capstans cranked up too high? Just a thought.



Paul





 



-----Original Message-----

From: Paul McCloud <pmc033 at earthlink.net>

To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>

Sent: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:02 am

Subject: RE: Steinway repetition problem






















Hi, William:




    I'm going to second Mother about the wippen heels.  I'd go for replacement.  Also, check to see if the damper lever lift felt (end of damper lever) and see if there are divots.  The felt on these is very soft and not woven.  Sometimes the felt has "melted" something onto the spoons which causes them to become rough.  Then they "carve" holes in the damper lift felt.  




    You could also strengthen the hammer return springs.  Take out some of the shims from the spring rail, or replace the springs with stronger ones.  All the springs are suspect.  A stronger jack spring will help too.  




    Easiest is to rebalance the keys.  I hate jiffy leads, but in this case, you might need some.




    Good luck.




    Paul McCloud




    San Diego




 







Paul McCloud




Service Technician for PianoSD.com




www.pianoservsd.com 




Created with free BlueVoda software:




http://www.vodahost.com/partner/idevaffiliate.php?id=9223_1_3_9




 




 








 






----- Original Message ----- 




From: Piano Boutique 




To: pianotech at ptg.org




Sent: 03/24/2008 1:20:00 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.




 




Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides. 



 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20080325/4399a847/attachment.html 


More information about the Pianotech mailing list

This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC