Laws of physics in reverse?

[John Fortiner]

Someone wrote back saying put a drop of glue on the nut - which I somewhat
disagree with.  IF the nut is truly getting tighter then the drop of glue
had best be placed UNDER the nut, not on the top of the nut as the drop
under the nut will prevent the nut from traveling downwards.  (small point I
agree.)

John Fortiner  

-----Original Message-----
From: Arlie Rauch [mailto:adarpub at midrivers.com] 
Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2006 4:36 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Laws of physics in reverse?

A customer called me the other day who has an old upright piano, a fairly
nice one.  But it has one unusual feature--either that or she is not telling
me everything.  The nut which adjusts the damper pedal tightens itself over
time to the degree that the dampers stand off from the strings, and the
sound just rings.

Is this really possible?  She claims no one tampers with it.  But every
visit I adjust it so it works properly, and my next visit it is screwed down
so tight that the dampers are off the strings again.

Anyone else experience this?  Can you explain it?  I can understand a nut
loosening, but tightening by itself baffles me.

Anyway, it's time to loosen the nut again!

Arlie Rauch
Glendive, MT