[pianotech] Suggestions for sticking dampers

[Jlmatt at aol.com]

Marty,
Have you checked the sostenuto rod? sometimes it's so  close to the tabs 
that even without pressing the  pedal the tabs brush against it when the 
dampers are on their way down  and  it keeps them hanging. I encountered a 
situation like  that yesterday.   I bent the rod outward a little and that solved 
the  problem. That  piano is constantly subjected to big temperature 
changes, so  I think that when it gets hot the brass rod expands and has to bow one 
way or  the other. 
 
Jean-Luc Matton, RPT
Albuquerque NM
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 6/5/2011 4:35:54 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time,  
tompiano at bellsouth.net writes:

Marty
I would second Barbara Richmond's suggestion.  However I would go a step 
further.
First of all,are you 100% certain the friction is  in the damper guide rail 
bushings. Make sure that the problem is not in the  underlever pinning. But 
if it is in the guide  rail bushings, I would shoot for stabilizing the 
felt. 
Use the old and true method of  treating stubborn center pin bushings in 
the action. Mix 50%  water/50% denatured alcohol and with an eye-dropper or  
hypo-oilier, putting several drops in the damper guide bushing. Initially  
the solution will swell the bushing, but hours later the bushing will return  
to it's original size. The difference is that the felt will be in a more  
stabilized condition. 
Once treated with the solution, I would then  follow up with the Protek 
Prolube and you'll have a very long lasting  repair. 
Tom Servinsky

----- Original Message ----- 
From:  _Barbara Richmond_ (mailto:piano57 at comcast.net)  
To: _pianotech at ptg.org_ (mailto:pianotech at ptg.org)  
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2011 9:09  PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Suggestions  for sticking dampers


  
Perhaps  some material needs to be removed.  I've had to do this.  I took a 
 rat tail file and twirled it lightly in the guide bushing cloth and 
removed  a small amount of material (threads).  One must be careful--it's  
possible to grab the whole bushing!  Then I took a spare damper wire,  heated it 
and ironed the hole.  Next I treated the cloth with  Protek.    I had thought 
of using VS Profelt, but I didn't  want to go through the swelling and 
shrinking thing and having to drive 40  miles to come back and check to see if 
everything was working.  BTW,  it's possible to listen for the amount of 
friction in damper guide  rails--well, you can hear it in a quiet environment.  
Have a  listen...  

Barbara Richmond, RPT
near Peoria,  Illinois

----- Original Message -----
From: "martin cipolla"  <pianodoctor at msn.com>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Saturday, June  4, 2011 7:07:07 PM
Subject: [pianotech] Suggestions for sticking  dampers

The Piano is a Steinway M.  Perhaps 40 years old.  Sticking  dampers are a 
reoccurring problem.  I have eased the damper  holes,
and used 0000 steel wool on the damper wires and still the dampers  stick 
with any major weather change.  For some reason the
customer  is not interested in a Damp Chaser being put on the instrument.  
I can  use some suggestions on a fix that would be
longer lasting.  HELP  !!!

MARTY




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