overcentering justified?

David M. Porritt dm.porritt@verizon.net
Fri, 15 Aug 2003 18:24:58 -0500


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What would happen to the "magic line" etc. if you raised the stack a
little?  2.8mm higher stack would get you 0 rake, 48mm bore with no
over centering.  You'd have to check out all the other parameters --
let off, etc. but I'd check that.

dave
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

On 8/15/2003 at 3:57 PM Bob Hull wrote:
List, 
I have a question about appropriate bore distance to see  if
overcentering is justified, even designed into the action from the
first.  Here's the background for the question(s): 
In determining the bore distance for a new set of hammers on a
Hamburg D, I have done the usual math to determine a perfectly level
shank when the hammer meets the string.
According to this the new hammers should be bored at 2" for the
treble hammers which is a considerably longer distance than the old
hammers are bored at and also longer than the specs I have from
Steinway ( 48mm).
The old hammers overcenter due to their bore and even more so of
course due to their wear.  Was this intended by Hamburg in their
design?
After boring at the longer distance I thought would be better than
their old short bore distance,  I see that of course I have to lower
the capstan to have a blow distance like the old and of course the
let off.  The result is that 1. The shank is only 1/8 or less of the
cushion and 2. The repetition speed is very mediocre.  (I can improve
the repetition speed on the long  bore distance hammer by decreasing
blow distance to about 1 5/8".)
The old hammers repeated very easily and as fast as you could want.
(The old blow distance is about 1 3/4".  

I searched the archives and read Ron Overs, Richard Davenport, Newton
Hunt and Dave Love about the benefits of a higher shank.  Also, Sam
Powell's article in the Sept. '93 Journal about the reduced friction
that comes from the knuckle not being too far below the line.
(Effects of Hammer Bore on Escapement Friction)  These seem to give
some approval to overcentering.  
But, will there be an unacceptable loss of power?  Won't the hammer
be sliding into the string rather than striking it at 90 degrees?

If I resort to overcentering like the old hammers on this piano,
would it be advisable to hang them with a positive rake angle to
compensate?  Hamburg Steinway specs call for 0 rake.

I realize some of this may be a rehash of an old subject, but any
good guidelines would be appreciated.  
Thanks,

Bob Hull



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_____________________________
David M. Porritt
dporritt@mail.smu.edu
Meadows School of the Arts
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX 75275
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