Sticking Steinway dampers

[Douglas Hershberger]

David,
   There is another test that might explain the problem you've
described. Depress the sostenuto, then randomly hit forte blows within
the damper area and if any dampers hold up it is because the knife is to
far away but not so far that the sostenuto won't work, although not at
its best. I always check this as well as the test you mentioned earlier.
Doug Hershberger,RPT

David ilvedson wrote:
> 
> Which also reminds me...the test for a properly regulated
> sostenudo is to depress the sustain and while holding it depress
> the sostenudo.  The Sostenudo should lift all the dampers
> slightly and hold them up when the sustain is released.  Then
> with slow release of sostenudo the dampers should fall randomly.
> Of course depressing the sostenudo should not engage any
> dampers. I have observed that sometimes the sostenudo won't lift
> the dampers after the sustain is depressed but will sustain
> individual dampers when used with the keys...I haven't thought
> this one through but does anyone know why the sostenudo will
> still work when it doesn't pass the classic test?
> 
> David Ilvedson, RPT
> Pacifica, CA
> 
> > Date:          Fri, 17 Jul 1998 17:45:51 -0400
> > From:          nhunt@jagat.com (Newton Hunt)
> > To:            pianotech@ptg.org
> > Subject:       Re: Sticking Steinway dampers
> > Reply-to:      pianotech@ptg.org
> 
> > David Ivedson wrote:
> >  If this happening regulate Sostenudo!  Make sure the
> > dampers are not raising too far.  They should just raise to
> > slightly above the height of the dampers raised by the sostenudo
> > pedal.  If raising to high they can bind in the guide rail
> > bushings.
> >
> > This statement could confuse some people.  The proper procedure (one
> > that works) is to regulate the timing of the dampers the the sustain
> > pedal so that there is a small amount of lost motion between when the
> > pedal is depressed and when the dampers begin to move.  Next set the
> > sustain lever stop block so that the dampers are raised the same height
> > as the sharp keys.  Next regulate the damper stop rail so the dampers
> > have but a tiny amount of lost motion after the pedal (not the key) is
> > depressed.
> >
> > Finally you can regulate the sostonuto.  Set the blade so it is at about
> > 45 degrees to the vertical, set the height of the blade tip to the same
> > height as the tip of the tabs.  With the action in and blocks in place
> > depress the sustain then the sostonuto, release the sustain and tap the
> > damper heads.  If any fall through the blade needs to be moved toward
> > the dampers.  Next depress the sostonuto several times to check if any
> > tabs are being touched.  If so tap the blade bracket toward the font of
> > the keys.
> >
> > This should make all work well.
> >
> >                                 Newton
> >                                 nhunt@jagat.com
> >
> >
> >
> >