Heavy pedal

[Wimblees]

In a message dated 98-03-13 10:40:04 EST, you write:

>I service a  12 year old Steinway M at a local church.    The complaint is
>that the damper pedal is too "heavy",  or hard to depress.
>The piano player thinks it has become more resistant  with time, especially
>in the last month or two.  
>
>I've removed the action to check the damper tray which moves freely; the
>dowel through the key bed is not rubbing; removing the metal rod lets the
>pedal drop freely; with the metal rod removed the wooden lever under the bed
>also drops freely.  I even removed the coil spring that sits between the
>wooden lever and the bed, which didn't make enough difference to satisfy.
>
>Any suggestions on how to lighten the pedal feel would be appreciated.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Don Price
>dcp@sosinc.net
>
>

Don:

It has been my experience that Steinway damper pedals are always hard to
depress. But make sure the bushings inside the lyre box are not worn out,
causing excesive rubbing. 

Willem Blees  RPT
St. louis