Since the shanks had a sloppy knuckle installation they should have been replace with ones with a 17mm knuckle/center pin radius to lower the touchweight. This is where having sample shanks comes in handy to select the proper parts for the job. The irregular knuckle installation does change the ratio and produces drastic touchweight problems. Now you will have to remove the knuckles and reinstall them to a consistent height. Use a caul and an arbor press. In the long run it's cheaper to replace the old shanks than try to salvage them. Since you have to remove the shanks from the rail, it would be a good time to relocate the knuckles. This will lower your touchweight and friction without removing hammer mass or adding lead to the fronts. If the present knuckles have an acceptable surface, plug the slots and cut a relocated one. If they are worn cut them flush to the shank and cut a new slot for a new knuckle. See, it's that easier than replacing the shanks altogether? How are the centers? how old are the shanks? You might want to consider scrapping the shanks and rehanging the hammer on new shanks. it'll save you a lot of time fabricating a jig to cut the new slots. Raise or lower the backchecks to have them function properly. Or you can just tell the customer to live with it since they wanted to scrimp on the installation. Regards, Jon Page, piano technician Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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