[CAUT] Steinway Pedal Lyre Regulation After Reconditioning

[Paul Milesi, RPT]

Tom, Ed, Jon, Gerry & Fred-

Many thanks to all for your helpful replies and discussion.  I believe the
source of the "problem" is that the new pedal cushions ("ravioli") are
thicker than the originals.  I mentioned this as a possibility in my
original post, and Fred also confirms that he has seen this before.  In any
case, I guess the solution is still to cut a little off each of the three
rods, not to squish down the cushions.  Since I am customizing the rod
lengths to what's now there, I plan to leave the leather dots inside the
rubber bushings.  I will report back my results.
-- 
Paul Milesi, RPT
Staff Piano Technician
Howard University Department of Music
Washington, DC


> From: Fred Sturm <fssturm at unm.edu>
> Reply-To: <caut at ptg.org>
> Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 12:57:57 -0600
> To: <caut at ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Steinway Pedal Lyre Regulation After Reconditioning
> 
> What about under the pedals, the cushions that provide a positive stop
> (pedals at rest)? I have had pianos returned after a rebuild project
> where those were too thick, leading to the problems you mention.
> 
> Regards,
> Fred Sturm
> fssturm at unm.edu
> http://www.youtube.com/fredsturm
> On Aug 14, 2010, at 12:20 AM, Paul Milesi, RPT wrote:
> 
>> Today I re-installed a reconditioned 1970 Steinway D lyre, and found
>> that
>> all the rods are too long.
>> 
>> I believe all the basic parts are "original."  I replaced all the
>> pedal
>> bushings -- leather, rubber pedal rod bushings with the little leather
>> inserts, teflon pivot rod bushings, pedal cushions (ravioli) , etc.
>> Now the
>> sostenuto piston is protruding up into the keybed 1/8" or maybe
>> 1/16", the
>> dampers have a slight ring, and I'm not sure what's going on with
>> the una
>> corda because I still have the action torn down, but the trap lever
>> looks
>> high.
>> 
>> The pedal rods are the newer adjustable type, and I didn't expect
>> this to be
>> a problem.  But I've got the nut turned all the way down as far as
>> it will
>> go and they're still too long.  There's only one leather disk on
>> each trap
>> lever (original I believe, and slightly worn in), and no felt or other
>> bushing or shim in that area.
>> 
>> I'm thinking this might be because the system in 1970 was to place a
>> larger
>> leather bushing in the bottom of the pedal receiving end, and the
>> rubber
>> bushing only went around the outside of the rod, whereas now you've
>> got the
>> thickness of the leather + the thickness of the rubber bushing
>> underneath.
>> But I thought they made the little leather inserts thinner than the
>> larger
>> diameter leather bushings that went in the bottom of the pedal.
>> 
>> An alternative source for the problem might be thicker ravioli.
>> 
>> I'm inclined to cut the rods, but don't want to mess up original
>> equipment
>> for the long term unless that is the way to go based on lots of
>> experience
>> from other reconditioners/rebuilders.  Are there subtle differences
>> in the
>> length of pedal rods over the years?  What about trying to compress
>> the
>> ravioli?  Any other ideas?
>> 
>> Am I missing something here?
>> -- 
>> Paul Milesi, RPT
>> Staff Piano Technician
>> Howard University Department of Music
>> Washington, DC
>> 
>> 
> 
> 
> 
>