Clicking Baldwin/let off

[Stacy Adams]

List,

Yesterday I tuned a small 60s Baldwin console with a drop action.  The piano 
was very close to pitch and the tuning went by quicker than anticipated.  
Having a bit of time to spare and looking for ways to improve the piano, I 
decided to adjust the let off.  Most hammers were letting off about 10mm 
from the strings, so I went through and adjusted everything to 3mm.

That night the lady that owned the piano phoned me and asked me to come back 
and set everything back the way it was, each hammer was now clicking!  I 
didn't think that it was possible that adjusting let off could cause this, 
but went to her house today anyway to try and determine the problem.  Sure 
enough, each hammer clicked as it approached the string, when the jack was 
engaging.  I couldn't tell why this was happening... I checked the let off 
rail to make sure it was snug, there was no obvious reason I could see to 
cause the clicking.  Because it was a drop action and time was limited I did 
not consider pulling the action.  When I adjusted each hammer to let off at 
roughly 10mm, the clicking disappeared.  I went through the action, 
adjusting each hammer to let off at 10mm and all the clicking disappeared.  
Problem solved, I guess, but I am now scratching my head wondering why.

Could it be that felt covering the key buttons was breaking down or coming 
unglued on the less used side, and when I turned the button the felt was now 
being compressed differently causing the click?  This is a Baldwin, would 
this have anything to do with Corfam?  I have regulated about 50 uprights in 
my short career, but never have experienced anything like this.  I hope I 
have given enough info to at least prompt some educated guesses.

Many thanks,

Stacy Adams
Victoria, BC.





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