Hi David, Are you in for an adventure! 50 to 60 grams touch weight is not out of range. What is important is down weight AND up weight, the average of the two and half the difference of the two. Go for light hammers, I prefer Abels because of their low weight and their sound, and use Renner parts, shanks and wippens but the shanks MUST match the knuckle size and location. A real touch problem with these actions is the key ratio which could adversely effect touch weight as well as the performance potential and the 'feel' of the action. In some models the shift pedal doesn't so you will need to rely upon the hammer lift rail for soft pedal effects. In this case you will need to cut the rest cushions off the wippens, INCLUDING part of the ends of the flanges (not much but otherwise regulation will be a problem). Before you get started carefully bed the key frame and measure and record key heights at four or five locations and do the same when you get the action on the bench. Mark the location on the bench so you can reposition it precisely each time. You will level the keys to these measurements. Do not change the bedding but use shims if needful except to the ends of the front rail where you will need a clamping system to hold them firmly to the bench. This action is a real pain to remove, handle and install. Before you get started get 2 pieces of 2x4s cut square at each end. A piece of 1x2 long enough to extend the length of the frame plus the two 2x4s. Get or make some slats 1/8" by 4" cut the length of each section. Assemble this so that the 2x4s rest against the action frame, the 1x2 spans the frame and is nailed to the 2x4s and the slats are secured to the 1x3 to the exact height of the strings at each section end. Raise each hammer to the slats and mark the left string of each unison. You now have a regulation rack custom fitted for that action and a string scale for each note. When you are finished assembling the action you can space, burn and travel the hammers and shanks precisely and can regulate the action to fit the piano. All you will have to do at the piano is double check your dip and let-off, time the dampers (a real bitch on these pianos), tune and voice. If you are replacing key frame felts take careful measurements of height and dip for each rail to exactly replicate what is there now. You must take extra care, caution and time to do this action as perfectly as possible and have it STABLE before returning it to the piano, so regulate, regulate, regulate and regulate some more. In between each regulation beat the hell out of the action again and again and again. When you finally install this action you don't want to remove it again, ever, so careful planning and careful execution are required. Lots of luck. Newton David Forman wrote: > > I need some advice. I was asked yesterday to rebuild the action on an > old Steinway XR (M size player-player removed). The touch is already > heavy (58-60 grams) with the original parts, so I need to use new parts > that will not add any extra touch weight to the action. Should I go with > all original Steinway parts, although I've had weight problems with them > before on a piano, or go with aftermarket parts using the newer light > hammers Pianotek has advertised. I'm certainly no expert at this, so any > advice would be most welcome. > Dave Forman > Westminster Choir College of Rider University
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