Steinway hammer alignment

[David Love]

Shim out the stop inside the action cavity on the bass end (after making
sure that it doesn't screw up the damper lever alignment on the key end
felt).  Sometimes on an older piano the action will move left as the cloth
compacts and wears.  I would probably replace the cloth first if it is worn.
You will then have to screw in the stop on the treble side as the una corda
movement will be restricted if you don't.

David Love

----- Original Message -----
From: <bases-loaded@juno.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: October 16, 2001 12:09 PM
Subject: Steinway hammer alignment


> Greetings -
>
> First service call to a new customer.  1976 vintage Steinway S.  More
> than 2/3 of the hammers are striking left of center, although they ARE
> square to the string plane.  It is clear they have been this way since
> day one.
>
> The Steinway rail does not allow enough play to simply loosen the hammer
> flange screws so that the hammers can be moved over to the right enough
> to be centered.  I had to use the soft pedal constantly in order to sound
> the majority of the right hand strings for tuning.
>
> What have some of you found to be the best solution for this problem?  I
> must say I have never run into such rampant misalignment, and find it
> hard to believe it has not been noticed and dealt with by now.
>
> Thanks for any input!
>
> Mark Potter
> bases-loaded@juno.com