Damper Lift Problem

[Avery Todd]

Ed,

Thanks for the reply but my whole point is that the lift has changed.
Suddenly, it seem like. It's been fine until just recently.

Avery

>Avery writes:
><<I did all the usual stuff. I took up the excess play but that
>made the arm under the keybed so high that there was not enough
>space before it hit the felt stop.<<
>
>      You may need a longer pitman...
>
>>>The only thing left is for the damper underlevers to
>be too high off the tray. Which is exactly what I finally figured
>out is the problem. Now, the lift with the keys is way too late,
>which would account for the problem of the strings not getting
>high enough off the strings. But it's the underlever position,
>not the key end felt.>>
>
>    The underlevers have to be set so that the key contact is at the proper
>time, (usually hammer is midway to string),  and on the Steinways, make sure
>that the tray adjustment is close when you do this!   At this point you will
>be able to tell is there is enough trapwork travel to lift the hammers via
>the tray to the height that the sharps lift them.  The upstop rail will act
>as a fulcrum if there isn't enough free-play between it and the underlevers
>when both the key AND the pedal are depressed.
>    Don't be afraid to add another felt pad to the tray, (which effectively
>lengthens the pitman), or to cut the block of felt that stops the trapwork
>lever's upward motion, but start with the underlevers set to the key end felt
>with minimal lost motion from the tray.
>Good luck,
>Ed Foote