Key level puzzle

[Ed Guerra]

Hi Gary, 

Could it be possible that balance rail has warped? Another thing is that
maybe the balance rail screws are loose.   

Ed Guerra




At 07:02 PM 3/30/98 +2, you wrote:
>One of the pianos I service at a Teachers College is a Dietmann upright 
>bought new in 1990.  When I  serviced it six months ago it was in good 
>contion, but now it has a problem that perplexes me.
>
>Starting from F3 up to the top the front of the key level progressively 
>rises until it measures a 1/2" gap above the front board.  The keys  are 
>so far off the front rail that the top key will even play when I put my 
>key level block under it.   Everything else sees to be in adjustment.  
>Capstan heights are regular throughout.  Balance rail punchings are the 
>same throughout.  The back rail  cloth is okay.  Action brackets on both 
>ends are the same height. The keys are so high off the front rail that 
>they can even move out of the slots when playing.  When the fall board is 
>replaced the high treble keys are blocked so that they only way to render 
>them playable is to shim up the fall board on the treble side.  Adding 
>height to the back rail cloth brings the level down of course,  but then 
>the capstans would have to be radically altered.
>
>The music instructor in charge of the pianos says that he suspects the 
>piano may have been dropped when being moved upstairs.  However, I cannot 
>see any signs of damage.  
>
>Gary Isaac
>South Africa
>
Ed Guerra
edguerra@mail.utexas.edu
Austin, TX