Diagnose This! (A puzzler)

[Alan]

#1 I WAS using word as my email editor. Had no idea it was generating
garbage. Sorry.
#2 It's amazing how fast some topics zing off into unrelated areas. <G>
#3 Since the original puzzler went out in code, apparently, I have
reentered it below. I humbly think it's a good one.
#4 This is an unusual little situation, but something to check if anyone
else has the the same problem.
#5 New hint: This could ONLY happen in a grand.
#6 Response to Ron's missive:
>>Bent center pin, or spring out of the jack. Evil spirits. Bad Juju.
(Nope. Nothing out of place, nothing bent, broken, corroded, or worn
out.)
>>Terrorists. Republicans. Hobbits. (Evil guys, good guys, and mythical
guys--pretty well covers the spectrum of possibilites.) <I'm smiling
here>
>> A question of my own. How is it your not all that long post is 16k
long, but Avery's reply, with your post included in it's entirety, is
only 5k long? 16+2=5 E-math. (See #1 above)

Here's the Puzzler in plain text. (Was going to say "plain English," but
I do not wish to dishoner all my childhood teachers with such a
misrepresentation.) ...

Piano: Late model Geo. Steck small grand. 
 
The Problem: G#3 failing to play on a hard blow.
 
Observations: Plays with perfect reliability on soft blows but misses
almost every time on hard blows (jumps up a little but no where near the
string).
 
Possible causes eliminated:
 
1. Key stick is NOT cracked or broken
2. "Catcher Interference" ruled out by the umpire—-hammer tail is NOT
snaggin' or draggin' on the buckskin. 
3. Hammer, shank, and knuckle are fine. Observed, from marks on the
knuckle, that it was only resting on one side of the rep lever. Hammer
not centered well on strings either. Adjusted the lateral position of
both hammer and rep lever to better align everything. Had no effect on
the problem. (Before you squawk, the piano is pretty new; the hammers
virtually grooveless*.) 
4. Examined whippen assy. No problem with flanges or centers. No cracked
or broken parts. Nothing missing. Nothing unhooked or out of its slot,
etc. All in like new condition.
 
Clues: 
 
1. Let off was early (maybe 3/8") and turning the adjusting dowel didn't
seem to change the letoff point. Hmmm ...
2. Jack height was good but jack was too far forward. Aha! Jack isn't
getting fully under the knuckle and is tripping out so fast on a hard
blow that there is nothing to lift the hammer! Yes, yes! 
3. Turned the jack regulating screw … jack did not move any further
back. I could push it back, but it just came forward again when
released. 
4. The wippen spoon was bent a little, more angled than on neighboring
whippens … almost as though someone (factory?) was trying to get that
jack into position. Straightened the spoon. No help. Turned the
regulating screw until the felt and dowel were no longer even touching
the spoon. Jack stayed right where it was. 
 
Hint: I had to remove the jack to fix the trouble but there was no
problem, whatsoever, with the jack. In reinstalling the jack, I used a
certain tool that I already had at hand … (what a giveaway!)
 
Puzzler: If I said any more, it wouldn't be a puzzler now would it? What
simple thing was necessary to restore this key to full power and proper
regulation? 
 
Prize: One of my regular clients. (Note: I get to pick which one, and I
have someone specific in mind.)
 
(To Joe Garrett: Thanks, Joe. And feel free to submit an entry.)

Alan R. Barnard
Salem, MO

*Grooveless? Like, wow, Man, that is so un-glad. I am, like, totally
bummed for you. I really feel for that felt. Have a flower.

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