Newton wrote: "By standing the action on the back rail and protecting the stretcher from the drop screws one can move the keys and bearings far enough to see what is under the bearing and remove what is needed with a good pair of forceps." Newton, the bearing strip is 4 mm thick and butts up against the bearings. Lifting the key and bearing as high as possible will only let me see down the pin a fraction of a mm below the top of the strip. I admit that I can fish for the punchings with my forceps and raise them above the level of the strip, but I can only do this for the naturals. I have a very good forceps, and I can't reach the punchings for the sharps. There just isn't enough room. Newton also wrote: "Steinway, or any manufacturer, is cheap and will not do anything they do not have to do even if we do not always understand their rationale. DOn't mess with it unless you really understand it." Manufactureres may be cheap, Newton, but the rest does not automatically follow. I'll bet that you could find manufacturing practices that are only done by tradition or that manufacturers might have psychological commitments to keep going. For example, balance rail bearings themselves are not cheap, but I have never been personally told by anyone that they could tell the difference in touch between a key with the bearing and one without the bearing. (I can't tell the difference.) I've noticed hearsay evidence that the bearings are better, and it makes a good marketing story for S&S. But I'm not convinced. Newton also wrote: "The strips are their to prevent the bering from twisting." This is the logical explanation for the strips. As I wrote, I'll find out how much twisting is going to happen, now that I've removed the front strip. I'll report back with my observations. Can I assume that your statement is one of logical inference, Newton, or have you really taken out the strip and observed twisting? I can certainly twist loose bearings easily enough, but they shouldn't be loose. I've had to size bearing holes that were loose to the point of making noise. I find them tedious to work with, and I'm sorry S&S uses them at all. Am I just inept at this levelling procedure or has anyone else experienced my problem? Bob Anderson Tucson, AZ
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